2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Leadership Transition Follows Poor Reception
Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the exit of previous head Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's disappointing initial reveal last autumn.
Recently, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the need for a clearer direction.
Ismailer expressed that the team is now refining the project with a revised vision, aiming to better meet gamer demands.
Trend of Key Recruitment
This announcement follows a comparable move taken by 2K Games in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full content from Ismailer's announcement:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and innovative creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”
Through your commitment and adaptability, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.
The player input from last fall’s Project ETHOS playtest was revealing. It confirmed the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had work to do. It revealed the need for a clearer vision.
The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve come. You accepted the criticism to heart and reimagined Project ETHOS with a revitalized direction - one that’s ready to fulfill its ambition to our fans.
The belief in this project increases every day. To boost the outstanding advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to announce the new hire as the new Director of the team. Following a period of conversations, Ben officially joins us on Monday, October 20.
His leadership and background in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having dedicated the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most recognizable series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in welcoming Ben next week. We are all looking forward to keep observing the development of the game in the weeks to follow.
David
Experience of the New Leader
Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for Apex Legends. He previously worked at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Information and Vision
The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, the developers described the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an exciting advancement on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the competition with new abilities, stakes, and obstacles that shift every round. Will you safely extract with your hard-earned loot? Or take a risk, risk it all, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."
The game lacks an announced release date or consoles, but enthusiasts can anticipate more updates as creation advances.
