The Gaming Giant Brings Onboard Popular Battle Royale Lead to Revitalize Troubled Hero Shooter Ambitious Title

2K Games has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Feedback

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 the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the requirement for a more defined game identity.

Ismailer stated that the team is now overhauling the project with a refreshed vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Hires

The news mirrors a similar step taken by 2K Games in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the complete content from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented designers we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you repeatedly show that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS demo was enlightening. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer vision.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the feedback to heart and overhauled the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s positioned to deliver on its potential to our audience.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the outstanding progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of talks, Ben comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and background in the PVP shooter space is vast, having dedicated the last 15 years creating and leading some of the most popular franchises in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to keep seeing the development of Project ETHOS in the months to follow.

David

Experience of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Then, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an thrilling evolution on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description explains. "Face the rivals with new abilities, risks, and tests that shift every round. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and pray your team can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

The game lacks an confirmed launch window or consoles, but players can expect additional details as development continues.