🔗 Share this article

The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated employees about this decision through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a clearer game identity.

The president noted that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to better meet player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Hires

The news follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire message from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a more distinct identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the feedback to mind and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its ambition to our players.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the incoming Director of 31st Union. Following some time of talks, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and managing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving him soon. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Concept

The upcoming game was announced in last year together with a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the style."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to suit your personal playstyle," the official summary explains. "Challenge the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and tests that shift every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The decision is yours."

The game has not yet received an announced release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as creation continues.