2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the anticipated over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had indicated the need for a distinct direction.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now overhauling the project with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
This announcement mirrors a similar action taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard 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 finished your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented designers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”
Given your hard work and versatility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was enlightening. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a more distinct vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the criticism to mind and reimagined Project ETHOS with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our fans.
The belief in this project increases every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Studio Head of the team. Following several months of talks, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s guidance and expertise in the competitive gaming space is vast, having spent the last 15 years producing and overseeing some of the most popular series in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in greeting Ben soon. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to come.
The President
The appointee currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in multiple production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.
The upcoming game was announced in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the opponents with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that change every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or go big, gamble everything, and hope your squad can secure victory? The decision is in your hands."
The game lacks an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as creation continues.
