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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the upcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Transition Follows Lukewarm Response

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president a key figure updated team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.

The president stated that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

A Pattern of Strategic Hires

The news echoes a similar step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire text from the president's announcement:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative designers we have had the pleasure to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to continue.”

Given your hard work and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It affirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to consideration and reimagined the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s poised to fulfill its potential to our players.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To further the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. After some time of talks, Ben officially joins us on next week.

His management and background in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and overseeing some of the most popular series in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in receiving him in the coming days. We are all excited to keep seeing the evolution of the game in the months to ahead.

David

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman presently holds the position of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. Brinkman earlier worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the category."

"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 official summary explains. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that change every round. Will you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The decision is in your hands."

The game lacks an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect more updates as production progresses.