2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Shift Follows Mixed Response
The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last fall.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed employees about this decision through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the need for a distinct game identity.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
A Pattern of Key Recruitment
This announcement follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.
Here is the complete text from Ismailer's communication:
Team—
I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to persist.”
With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It affirmed the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a clearer identity.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our audience.
The belief in this project grows every day. To boost the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to welcome the new hire as the new Director of the team. After some time of talks, he officially joins us on next week.
Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter field is extensive, having dedicated the recent years creating and leading some of the most popular titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in receiving Ben next week. We are all looking forward to continue witnessing the evolution of the game in the time to ahead.
The President
Experience of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman presently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Information and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a early access event. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the style."
"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 description reads. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and tests that shift every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."
The game lacks an official debut schedule or platforms, but fans can anticipate further news as development progresses.
