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

Management Shift Comes After Mixed Feedback

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

Recently, 2K president a key figure notified employees about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a more defined direction.

The president noted that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed approach, aiming to address gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The news follows a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from Blizzard to contribute to the BioShock development group.

Below is the complete text from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your meeting - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I sent you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most driven and talented developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re eager for that relationship to persist.”

Given your hard work and versatility, especially over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game demo was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the requirement for a clearer brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You took the input to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our audience.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of discussions, Ben starts with us on next week.

Ben’s management and expertise in the competitive gaming space is vast, having spent the last 15 years developing and leading some of the most recognizable series in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in receiving Ben next week. We are all looking forward to persist observing the development of the game in the months to follow.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee currently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that shift every round. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Alternatively go big, risk it all, and hope your group can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."

The game does not have an confirmed release date or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as development continues.