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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Shift Follows Poor Feedback

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' lackluster unveiling last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a distinct game identity.

The president stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised focus, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

The news follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Here is the complete text from the president's memo:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that relationship to persist.”

Through your commitment and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It affirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to consideration and revamped the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our audience.

The trust in this project increases every day. To boost the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Director of the team. After some time of talks, he starts with us on next week.

Ben’s management and experience in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in receiving him soon. We are all looking forward to keep witnessing the evolution of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman currently holds the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Initially, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting advancement on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch reads. "Face the rivals with new abilities, risks, and tests that change every round. Will you safely extract with your collected items? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is yours."

The game has not yet received an announced release date or platforms, but players can anticipate additional details as development continues.