🔗 Share this article

2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to Project Ethos' disappointing unveiling last autumn.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had indicated the need for a more defined direction.

The president noted that the developers is now overhauling the project with a revised vision, aiming to address community desires.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

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

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

Team—

I know you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the recent updates. Last time I sent you all a note, I stated the following: “I believe in this team. You all are some of the most dedicated and talented developers we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that collaboration to persist.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s Project ETHOS testing phase was revealing. It validated the appeal of a roguelike shooter but told us we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the necessity for a more distinct identity.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the input to mind and overhauled Project ETHOS with a revitalized goal - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our audience.

The belief in this project grows every day. To advance the remarkable development you’ve made, I am thrilled to introduce the new hire as the new Lead of 31st Union. Following some time of conversations, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and experience in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having dedicated the recent years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known franchises in gaming, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Please join me in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all eager to keep observing the evolution of the game in the weeks to follow.

The President

Background of the Incoming Head

Brinkman currently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in various development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 together with a public demo. Initially, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward 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 explains. "Take on the opponents with fresh skills, challenges, and challenges that shift every match. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and pray your squad can achieve the highest spot? The option is in your hands."

The game lacks an announced launch window or platforms, but players can anticipate more updates as production progresses.