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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Follows Poor Feedback

Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had shown the need for a clearer vision.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining the project with a revised approach, aiming to address player expectations.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement follows a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the entire message from the president's memo:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and innovative creators we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to endure.”

Through your commitment and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS testing phase was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the need for a sharper vision.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You took the criticism to heart and revamped the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its ambition to our players.

Our confidence in this project increases every day. To further the outstanding development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the new Director of 31st Union. After some time of talks, he officially joins us on the specified date.

Ben’s guidance and expertise in the PVP shooter space is considerable, having devoted the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, such as the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in receiving him in the coming days. We are all excited to continue seeing the progress of the game in the time to ahead.

The President

Background of the Incoming Leader

The appointee currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in various production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, prior to that, had periods at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the official summary reads. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, risks, and tests that evolve every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Alternatively take a risk, gamble everything, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The option is yours."

The game has not yet received an announced debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can anticipate further news as creation advances.