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2K Games has welcomed Ben Brinkman from Respawn Entertainment to lead the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Comes After Lukewarm Response

The new appointee steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster early showing last autumn.

Recently, the company's top executive a key figure updated team members about this organizational change through an internal memo, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had indicated the requirement for a distinct direction.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.

Trend of Key Acquisitions

This announcement mirrors a comparable action taken by the publisher in August, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the beloved franchise development group.

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

Hello Everyone—

I know you all just finished your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a update, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that relationship to continue.”

Given your hard work 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 validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It highlighted the necessity for a clearer identity.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the criticism to mind and overhauled the title with a renewed goal - one that’s ready to fulfill its potential to our audience.

The belief in this project increases every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. After a period of conversations, Ben starts with us on the specified date.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having devoted the last 15 years creating and overseeing some of the most well-known titles in the industry, including the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben soon. We are all excited to continue seeing the evolution of the game in the time to ahead.

David

Experience of the Incoming Head

The appointee presently serves in the role of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in diverse development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, before that, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 together with a community playtest. Then, the developers presented the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting step forward on the category."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Challenge the rivals with new abilities, challenges, and tests that evolve every session. Do you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Or go big, risk it all, and pray your team can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."

The game has not yet received an official launch window or consoles, but players can look forward to further news as development progresses.