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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Comes After Mixed Feedback

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the need for a more defined direction.

Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full text from the president's communication:

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to continue.”

Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was revealing. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to mind and reimagined the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to deliver on its promise to our players.

The belief in this project strengthens every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following a period of discussions, he starts with us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having spent the recent years producing and leading some of the most popular titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all eager to keep observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

The President

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that shift every session. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos does not have an announced release date or consoles, but players can anticipate additional details as development advances.