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2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Reception

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure updated employees about this decision through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the necessity for a more defined game identity.

The president noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to better meet player expectations.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news echoes a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire message from the president's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to consideration and revamped the title with a revitalized goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our players.

The belief in this project grows every day. To boost the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the new Lead of the team. Following some time of discussions, he starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter space is extensive, having dedicated the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben soon. We are all eager to keep seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Information and Concept

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, risks, and obstacles that change every session. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, put it on the line, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

The game does not have an confirmed launch window or consoles, but fans can anticipate more updates as production advances.