The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends 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 Change Follows Lukewarm Reception
Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing unveiling last autumn.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer informed staff about this decision through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a distinct direction.
The president expressed that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy player expectations.
Trend of Key Acquisitions
The news echoes a comparable step taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.
Below is the complete content from Ismailer's memo:
Dear Team—
I know you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and innovative creators we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”
With your dedication and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.
The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had refinements needed. It highlighted the requirement for a clearer vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to heart and revamped the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to deliver on its ambition to our fans.
The trust in this project grows every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following several months of talks, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most popular series in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in receiving him soon. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the progress of the game in the months to follow.
David
Background of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Title Details and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the style."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the official summary explains. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that shift every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."
The game has not yet received an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but fans can expect additional details as creation progresses.
