The Gaming Giant Recruits Apex Legends Lead to Rescue Challenged Action Game Project Ethos

2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Management Change Follows Mixed Response

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing initial reveal last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed employees about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a clearer game identity.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

The news follows a similar move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete content from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and creative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to endure.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s the game playtest was revealing. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It uncovered the requirement for a clearer brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the input to heart and reimagined the title with a renewed direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our fans.

The trust in this project grows every day. To advance the incredible development you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the latest Director of the team. Following some time of discussions, he starts with us on the specified date.

His leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most popular series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in greeting Ben soon. We are all looking forward to continue observing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, the developers portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Face the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and obstacles that shift every round. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively go big, put it on the line, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an announced debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as production continues.