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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Follows Poor Feedback

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster early showing last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer noted that the team is now overhauling the project with a renewed focus, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full text from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to persist.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, especially over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a clearer brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the input to heart and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our players.

The belief in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of discussions, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and background in the PVP shooter field is vast, having spent the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most well-known series in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting him soon. We are all looking forward to continue observing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.

David

Background of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 together with a early access event. Then, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Take on the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that change every session. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or go big, gamble everything, and hope your group can secure victory? The option is up to you."

The game has not yet received an announced launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as development progresses.