2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently working on the upcoming over-the-shoulder action-packed title known as this innovative game.
Management Transition Follows Mixed Feedback
The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the exit of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that playtesting had shown the need for a clearer game identity.
Ismailer noted that the team is now reimagining the project with a revised focus, aiming to address community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Below is the full content from the president's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I know you all just completed your town hall - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and creative developers we have had the chance to work with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to continue.”
With your dedication and adaptability, especially over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.
The community feedback from last fall’s the game testing phase was informative. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the input to consideration and revamped the title with a revitalized vision - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our fans.
Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To advance the remarkable progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, Ben starts with us on Monday, October 20.
Ben’s leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half developing and leading some of the most popular series in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in greeting Ben next week. We are all excited to keep witnessing the progress of the game in the time to ahead.
The President
Experience of the New Leader
Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He earlier worked at major gaming companies in various production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at other industry leaders.
Game Details and Concept
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling 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 fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch reads. "Take on the competition with unique powers, stakes, and challenges that shift every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your squad can earn top ranking? The option is yours."
The game does not have an confirmed debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as development progresses.
