Starbreeze Studios has announced that it has scrapped its planned Dungeons & Dragons game as it plans to turn its attention to the Payday franchise, and is also letting go of 44 staff members.
Project Baxter was originally announced in 2023 and had a targeted release window of 2026, but Starbreeze has now said it has “discontinued development” of the title. A number of team members who worked on Project Baxter will be repositioned across various other Starbreeze titles, “most prominently within Payday.” However, it addd that “headcount will be reduced by 44 [full-time staff members] across employees and contractors, leading to a lower cost base going forward.”
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Speaking in a press release, the company stated:
Following a strategic review, the Board of Directors and management have concluded that resources are best deployed to accelerate the growth of Starbreeze’s flagship Payday franchise.
Adolf Kristjansson, CEO of Starbreeze Studios, commented:
This was a difficult but necessary decision. Our strategy is clear – Payday is one of the most iconic IPs in gaming, with unmatched reach and potential. By focusing our investment and talent here, we can accelerate delivery, engage players with more content, and reinforce Starbreeze’s position as the clear leader in the heisting genre. This is about sharpening our focus to create the strongest long-term value for our players, our people, and our shareholders.
I want to sincerely thank the Baxter team for their passion and creativity, and express appreciation to Wizards of the Coast for their support. Though we have made the decision to not continue forward with this project, we are proud of what was achieved in Baxter, and those contributions will carry forward into Payday and the future of Starbreeze. By concentrating our efforts on Payday we give Starbreeze and all our employees the best chance to succeed.
[Source – GamesIndustry.biz]