2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Change Follows Mixed Reception
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the necessity for a distinct direction.
Ismailer stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a renewed vision, aiming to satisfy community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Hires
This announcement mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the full text from the president's memo:
Team—
I know you all just finished your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re eager for that partnership to endure.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It validated the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a sharper identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to consideration and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to achieve its promise to our audience.
The belief in this project increases every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.
His guidance and experience in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most popular titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in greeting him next week. We are all looking forward to keep observing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.
The President
Background of the New Head
The appointee presently serves in the position of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the category."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Face the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that evolve every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or take a risk, risk it all, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."
The game does not have an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can look forward to further news as production continues.
