The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Transition Comes After Mixed Response
The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure updated staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a clearer vision.
The president noted that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Recruitment
This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the full message from Ismailer's memo:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”
With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a more distinct brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to consideration and revamped the title with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our players.
The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the latest Studio Head of the team. After several months of talks, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.
His guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most well-known franchises in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in greeting him next week. We are all eager to continue seeing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
The President
Background of the New Leader
The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary states. "Take on the rivals with new abilities, risks, and tests that shift every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or go big, risk it all, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The choice is up to you."
Project Ethos has not yet received an confirmed launch window or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate additional details as creation advances.
