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2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Feedback

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a more defined vision.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment

The news follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the full text from Ismailer's announcement:

Dear Team—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

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

The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was informative. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a sharper vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to consideration and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. Following a period of discussions, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most well-known series in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting him in the coming days. We are all looking forward to persist witnessing the development of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in last year alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, risks, and obstacles that shift every round. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and trust your squad can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

The game lacks an announced debut schedule or consoles, but players can look forward to further news as creation advances.