The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.
Management Change Follows Poor Feedback
The new appointee takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last fall.
Recently, 2K president a key figure updated employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a distinct game identity.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
Trend of Key Hires
This announcement mirrors a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the full text from the president's announcement:
Team—
I understand you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”
Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a sharper brand.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the criticism to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its potential to our fans.
The belief in Project ETHOS grows every day. To further the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. After some time of conversations, Ben officially joins us on next week.
His leadership and experience in the PVP shooter genre is extensive, having spent the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in receiving Ben next week. We are all eager to keep seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.
The President
Background of the New Head
The appointee presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Vision
The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. At the time, the developers portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary reads. "Face the competition with unique powers, challenges, and tests that shift every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, gamble everything, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The option is up to you."
The game does not have an confirmed release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as production advances.
