Overwatch Ex-Lead Writer is working on a new ‘multiplayer character action game’ for 2K

Former Overwatch lead author Michael Chu is working on a “multiplayer action-character game” for new studio 2K Games 31st Union.Twitter user MauroNL set up a thread on the job offers of the 31st Union. The most revealing nugget of information comes from Senior software engineer listing, which qualifies the upcoming 31st Union game as an “action cross-platform multiplayer game,” which sounds like a similar premise to other hero shooters like Overwatch or Team Fortress 2.

A List of main engine programmers also calls the game “AAA”, wishing a candidate familiar with “PS4, Xbox One, IOS and Android development tools”. Other listings mention familiarity with Unreal Engine 4, suggesting that it is the engine that the game is built into.

Michael Chu, former senior editor of Overwatch, joined the 31st Union in July 2020 and mentions in a blog post on the studio website that he’s passionate about creating inclusive characters, and found a studio that represents those values ​​in the 31st Union. “Our mission is not only to tell diverse and representative stories, but to create systems that will allow us to authentically and accurately represent under-represented groups around the world, and perhaps more importantly, foster an inclusive environment where these stories are told by a large and diverse group of creators who speak with their own voices, their own experiences, ”reads her blog post.

A List of writers for the upcoming mystery game mentions how the contestant will be responsible for presenting “original characters and storylines” as well as working on in-game factions to “shape the future of storytelling in online multiplayer gaming”. An opening for one Senior World / Level Designer talks about the need for those experienced in “online multiplayer action games” to “own map ideas from start to finish” with an emphasis on post-launch adjustment. “Can take a set of systems or player abilities and build spaces that showcase those abilities in interesting and creative ways,” the list says.

This specific mention of player abilities adds to the growing evidence that the game will be a hero shooter in the vein of Overwatch. Potential Software engineers will work on matchmaking, telemetry, replay, spikes in latency and more, and will have to “improve the resistance of network code to cheating and security exploits”, which are all facets of an action game successful multiplayer.

Of course, the game has yet to be officially revealed, but we’ll be sure to keep you posted if we hear anything more. VG247 reported in early 2020 that according to a Take-Two results call, the 31st Union game was is going to be revealed “over the next few months”, but plans may have been affected by the pandemic.

31st Union is based in San Mateo, California and was established in February 2019, with the studio name being revealed in February 2020. The team is led by Michael Condrey, previously co-founder of Sledgehammer Games. Elsewhere at 2K, another new studio known as Cloud Chamber is working on a brand new Bioshock game.

Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.