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The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Follows Mixed Feedback

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a clearer vision.

Ismailer noted that the team is now refining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Key Recruitment

The news follows a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the complete text from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The community feedback from last fall’s the game playtest was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a more distinct brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our players.

Our confidence in this project grows every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the latest Director of the team. Following several months of conversations, he comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the PVP shooter field is vast, having spent the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben soon. We are all looking forward to persist observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to come.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was announced in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Face the rivals with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that change every match. Do you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The option is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an announced launch window or platforms, but players can look forward to more updates as creation progresses.