2K Hires Popular Battle Royale Lead to Revitalize Troubled Action Game Project Ethos

The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Comes After Poor Response

The new appointee steps into the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' lackluster early showing last autumn.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a clearer direction.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete text from the president's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

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

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the need for a sharper identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the outstanding development you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, he starts with us on the specified date.

His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the evolution of the game in the months to follow.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Challenge the competition with new abilities, challenges, and tests that evolve every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is yours."

The game lacks an announced debut schedule or consoles, but players can anticipate additional details as production continues.