Starbreeze has introduced that Challenge Baxter, its co-op Dungeons and Dragons title set to launch in 2026, has been cancelled. After a “strategic evaluation,” the corporate’s Board of Administrators felt that sources had been “greatest deployed to speed up the expansion” of the Payday franchise.
In a press launch, CEO Adolf Kristjansson stated, “This was a troublesome however crucial resolution. Our technique is evident: Payday is likely one of the most iconic IPs in gaming, with unmatched attain and potential. By focusing our funding and expertise right here, we are able to speed up supply, interact gamers with extra content material, and reinforce Starbreeze’s place because the clear chief within the heisting style. That is about sharpening our focus to create the strongest long-term worth for our gamers, our individuals, and our shareholders.”
Alongside a non-cash impairment of SEK 255 million (roughly $27.2 million), Starbreeze is redeploying Challenge Baxter staff members to different initiatives, “most prominently inside Payday.” Nonetheless, it additionally confirmed layoffs for about 44 contractors and staff to GameDeveloper, although for the reason that following weeks will see union negotiations, the “actual quantity” couldn’t be specified.
In improvement on Unreal Engine 5, Challenge Baxter hadn’t obtained a gameplay reveal or official title. It will have been one other games-as-a-service title, and then-CEO Tobias Sjogren stated it was “laborious to think about a greater pairing than Dungeons and Dragons and Starbreeze.”
As for what this implies for Payday 3, which has floundered since its launch in September 2023, regardless of a number of updates and enhancements. Starbreeze additionally confronted contemporary controversy with its new DLC subscription mannequin and worth hike on the Notorious Assortment for Payday 2. Keep tuned for updates, as all the time.
