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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Follows Poor Response

The new appointee assumes the leadership position at the development studio following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer notified team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the need for a distinct direction.

The president stated that the team is now reimagining the project with a refreshed approach, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

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

Team—

I know you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I shared you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the chance to work with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the requirement for a sharper brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to consideration and revamped the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To further the outstanding progress you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce Ben Brinkman as the new Director of 31st Union. After several months of conversations, Ben comes aboard us on next week.

His guidance and background in the competitive gaming field is extensive, having dedicated the recent years creating and leading some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, Apex Legends.

I invite you all in welcoming him soon. We are all excited to continue witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to come.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in last year in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an innovative advancement on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Face the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that shift every match. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, risk it all, and trust your group can earn top ranking? The decision is up to you."

The game lacks an announced launch window or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as production advances.