Payday Devs Cancel D&D Game to Focus on New Heists

In a significant strategic pivot, Starbreeze has officially canceled its planned Dungeons & Dragons game, known internally as Project Baxter, to concentrate all development resources on its flagship Payday series. Following an extensive strategic review, the company’s board and management concluded that focusing on the heisting franchise offers the strongest path forward. This decision comes with a financial impairment charge of approximately SEK 255 million ($27.2 million).

Adolf Kristjansson, Starbreeze CEO, described the move as difficult but essential. “Our strategy is clear: Payday is one of the most iconic IPs in gaming,” he stated. By channeling investment and talent into this area, the studio aims to speed up content delivery, deepen player engagement, and cement its leadership in the heist genre. This sharpened focus is intended to generate long-term value for the community, employees, and shareholders alike.

The cancellation has unfortunately led to workforce reductions. While some developers from the Project Baxter team are transitioning to other internal roles, including the Payday unit, approximately 44 full-time and contract staff are being laid off. Starbreeze has committed to providing active support for affected employees seeking new opportunities within the wider games industry.

Kristjansson emphasized that the company is “doubling down” on the heisting genre, which encompasses both the Payday franchise and future expansions within that space. This consolidated approach, including the project cancellation and associated layoffs, is projected to help Starbreeze achieve a cash-flow positive status by 2026. The CEO expressed sincere gratitude to the Baxter development team for their passion and creativity, and to Wizards of the Coast for their collaboration, noting that the work accomplished on Baxter will positively influence future Payday content and Starbreeze’s overall direction.

Looking ahead, Starbreeze provided a roadmap for its future endeavors. Payday 3, while not yet matching the player concurrency or success of Payday 2 on platforms like Steam, will continue to receive updates and improvements. The goal is to transform it into a “scalable live-engagement platform” capable of attracting millions of players globally. The development team for Payday 3 is expected to grow to around 50 members by the end of 2025, with further scaling dependent on player engagement levels.

Simultaneously, support for Payday 2 continues with new updates and the recent introduction of a subscription model that grants access to all downloadable content for a monthly fee. The Payday franchise has already reached an audience of over 50 million people and generated nearly SEK 4 billion in lifetime gross revenue.

Beyond the core titles, Starbreeze is developing new games and experiences designed to broaden the heisting genre. These future projects will include spin-offs, narrative-driven games, and franchise expansion onto new platforms. To supplement revenue, the company will also continue accepting work-for-hire projects from other publishers.

Kristjansson summarized the strategy as one centered on execution and growth, with an emphasis on quality and predictability. The objective is to evolve Payday into a modern live-service game while creating new avenues for players to enjoy heist-themed adventures and special operations. By dedicating efforts to delivering lasting player value, Starbreeze aims to build a solid foundation for sustainable company growth.

(Source: GameSpot)