2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Shift Comes After Lukewarm Response
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' disappointing early showing last fall.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had shown the need for a distinct vision.
The president noted that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
Trend of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement mirrors a similar move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full content from the president's memo:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just wrapped up your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”
With your dedication and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a sharper brand.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to consideration and reimagined the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its ambition to our audience.
The trust in this project increases every day. To advance the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of the team. Following some time of discussions, he officially joins us on the specified date.
Ben’s leadership and experience in the PVP shooter field is vast, having spent the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.
Please join me in welcoming Ben soon. We are all eager to continue witnessing the progress of the game in the months to follow.
David
Experience of the Incoming Head
The appointee presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Then, 31st Union described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative evolution on the genre."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, risks, and obstacles that change every session. Will you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or take a risk, risk it all, and pray your team can secure victory? The option is yours."
The game lacks an announced launch window or supported systems, but players can anticipate more updates as production advances.
