2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Shift Follows Mixed Feedback
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last autumn.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a clearer game identity.
The president stated that the developers is now overhauling the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to address community desires.
Trend of Strategic Hires
This announcement follows a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the complete text from the president's communication:
Team—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that relationship to endure.”
With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game demo was informative. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer vision.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the feedback to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s positioned to deliver on its ambition to our audience.
The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on next week.
His management and experience in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having spent the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.
I invite you all in receiving Ben soon. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the time to come.
The President
Experience of the New Head
The appointee presently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.
Title Information and Vision
The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union presented the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the genre."
"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 description explains. "Face the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Or go big, put it on the line, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."
The game has not yet received an official release date or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as production progresses.
