Starbreeze Faces Backlash Over Lower Investment Plans for Payday 3’s Second Year

Starbreeze, the developer of Payday 3, is facing backlash after announcing it will invest less in the game’s second year. The company had a difficult launch last year, but recent anniversary updates were accepted positively by players. However, concerns arose when acting CEO Mats Juhl indicated the studio would shift focus to a new Dungeons & Dragons game, Project Baxter.

Many players expressed their frustration about the lower investment during the second year. Juhl’s financial report stated that although Payday 3 received positive feedback for its first-year updates, the second year would involve a “significantly lower level of investment.” This statement has led to fears that Starbreeze is prioritizing Project Baxter over Payday 3.

Players are vocal about their disappointment on platforms like Steam. Some reviews describe Payday 3 as a “dead game.” Others worry that the company is neglecting the game just as it started to improve. Conversations in the Payday subreddit reflect similar discontent towards Starbreeze’s focus on Project Baxter.

Despite the outcry, Starbreeze maintains optimism about Payday 3. Juhl noted the company is in a stable financial position. He mentioned that sales have potential for improvement, especially as many players still prefer Payday 2, which has a significantly higher player count.

Starbreeze continues to hire for Project Baxter, with development progressing. Juhl mentioned ongoing playtests and collaborations for this new project. The company currently employs 191 people, mainly based in Stockholm, Sweden.