🔗 Share this article

2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Comes After Poor Response

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer updated staff about this organizational change through an internal memo, which stressed that early feedback sessions had revealed the need for a clearer direction.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining the project with a renewed approach, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Recruitment

This announcement mirrors a comparable move taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock development group.

Here is the entire text from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a update, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re excited for that partnership to continue.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The community feedback from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It affirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to consideration and overhauled the title with a refreshed direction - one that’s poised to deliver on its promise to our audience.

The trust in this project strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Lead of the team. After a period of discussions, Ben comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming field is considerable, having spent the past decade and a half producing and leading some of the most recognizable titles in gaming, including the acclaimed shooter, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting him next week. We are all looking forward to continue observing the progress of the game in the months to follow.

The President

Experience of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently holds the position of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in various development positions on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Information and Concept

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Then, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the category."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the official summary states. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, risks, and challenges that change every match. Do you leave securely with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively aim high, risk it all, and pray your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."

The game lacks an announced debut schedule or supported systems, but enthusiasts can expect further news as development advances.