🔗 Share this article

2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Change Comes After Poor Reception

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the requirement for a clearer direction.

The president noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Key Hires

This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

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

Dear Team—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

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

The player input from last autumn’s the game demo was informative. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to mind and revamped the title with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to achieve its potential to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of talks, he starts with us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having devoted the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all excited to continue seeing the development of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Leader

The appointee currently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year alongside a early access event. Then, 31st Union presented the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that change every session. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively aim high, put it on the line, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

The game has not yet received an official release date or supported systems, but players can anticipate additional details as development advances.