The renowned publisher has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently developing the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Shift Comes After Lukewarm Reception
The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer updated team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a clearer game identity.
Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a renewed focus, aiming to address gamer demands.
Trend of Key Acquisitions
This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock development group.
Below is the complete text from the president's announcement:
Hello Everyone—
I understand you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”
With your dedication and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.
The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was revealing. It validated the appeal of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the need for a sharper brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to mind and reimagined the title with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our fans.
The belief in this project grows every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to welcome Ben Brinkman as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following a period of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on next week.
Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming space is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half developing and managing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
I invite you all in welcoming him next week. We are all eager to keep witnessing the progress of the game in the weeks to ahead.
David
Background of the Incoming Leader
Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a public demo. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling advancement on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the rivals with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that shift every match. Do you leave securely with your collected items? Or take a risk, risk it all, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The choice is in your hands."
The game lacks an official release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can look forward to additional details as creation continues.
