The renowned publisher has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Change Comes After Mixed Feedback
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer direction.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to address community desires.
Trend of Strategic Hires
The news echoes a similar action taken by the publisher in August, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the complete content from the president's memo:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”
Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a more distinct brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to heart and overhauled the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our audience.
The trust in this project increases every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome the new hire as the incoming Lead of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having dedicated the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.
Let’s together in greeting him soon. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the time to come.
The President
Background of the New Leader
Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions 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 October 2024 together with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the genre."
"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 game's pitch reads. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that evolve every round. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively take a risk, risk it all, and pray your group can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."
The game does not have an confirmed release date or platforms, but players can expect additional details as development advances.
