Key Takeaways
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- Starbreeze has canceled Project Baxter, their Dungeons & Dragons title, leading to the layoff of 44 employees due to its lack of viability.
- The company will now focus all efforts on their flagship franchise, Payday, with the goal of expanding content, enhancing player engagement, and re-establishing Starbreeze as a leader in heist games.
- This decision follows a period of financial struggles for Starbreeze, including disappointing sales of Payday 3 and previous layoffs.
- Despite the projects discontinuation, Starbreeze believes that the investment in Project Baxter was not in vain, as some concepts may inform future projects.
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Dungeons & Dragons Project Baxter Cancellation Triggers 44 Layoffs; Focus Shifts to Payday’s Future Expansion
Starbreeze Cancels Dungeons & Dragons Project Baxter, 44 Employees Laid Off Starbreeze, the Swedish game studio, has ceased development on Project Baxter, its upcoming Dungeons & Dragons title. Originally slated for a 2026 release, the game’s cancellation will result in 44 employee layoffs. Focus on Payday Amidst Strategic Shift Starbreeze initially planned Project Baxter, a new Dungeons & Dragons experience, in 2023. However, after a thorough review, management concluded the project was not viable. The company made the difficult decision to cancel it, stating the need to secure Starbreeze’s future. The studio will now concentrate all its efforts on its flagship franchise, Payday. CEO Adolf Kristjansson expressed confidence in Payday’s significant potential, aiming to expand its content, enhance player engagement, and re-establish Starbreeze as a leader in heist games. While some Project Baxter team members will transition to Payday development, Starbreeze will eliminate approximately 44 positions. The company anticipates this restructuring will help achieve profitability by next year. A History of Challenges
Starbreeze Shifts Focus After Project Baxter Cancellation Amid Financial Struggles and Future Expansion Plans
This strategic choice follows a period of financial difficulties for Starbreeze. Severe server issues marred the September 2023 launch of Payday 3, leading to disappointing sales and the previous CEO’s removal. The company had also conducted a round of layoffs by late 2024. Adolf Kristjansson assumed the role of CEO in March 2025 with the goal of ushering in a new era. This move underscores the ongoing challenges Starbreeze faces in its turnaround efforts. Despite the project’s discontinuation, Starbreeze stated that its investment in Project Baxter was not in vain, and some concepts may inform future projects. The company extended its gratitude to its development team and to Wizards of the Coast for their support.
In Case You Missed It
If you’re curious about how the highly anticipated release of Hollow Knight: Silksong affected one of gaming’s most popular platforms, be sure to read Bruno Pferd’s insightful piece, “Silksong Launch May Have Brought Down Steam,” published on September 4, 2025. Silksong Launch May Have Brought Down Steam Dive into the details of how the game’s launch seemingly overwhelmed the Steam Store and caused a widespread outage, leaving players around the world in the lurch. For those interested in the latest developments in the gaming industry, Jonathan Dubinski delves into a significant announcement from Starbreeze on October 2nd. In his post titled “Starbreeze Cancels Dungeons & Dragons Game,” he explores the company’s decision to cancel Project Baxter and refocus efforts on their successful Payday series. This move not only affects the future of a highly anticipated game but also has implications for the workforce and financial strategies within Starbreeze. Head over to Starbreeze Cancels Dungeons & Dragons Game for more insights into this pivotal shift in the gaming world. For those interested in the latest developments in the gaming industry, especially concerning Starbreeze’s recent financial challenges and strategic decisions, be sure to check out Carlos Mendoza’s insightful piece titled “Starbreeze Cancels D&D Project, Layoffs; Focuses on Payday” published on October 2, 2025. The article delves into the studio’s decision to cancel their D&D-based game project, announce layoffs, and pivot towards strengthening the Payday franchise. Head over to Starbreeze Cancels D&D Project, Layoffs; Focuses on Payday for a detailed look at this significant shift in Starbreeze’s direction.
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Official Name | Payday 3 |
| Brief Summary | Payday 3 is the much anticipated sequel to one of the most popular co-op shooters ever. Since its release, Payday-players have been reveling in the thrill of a perfectly planned and executed heist. That’s what makes Payday a high-octane, co-op FPS experience without equal. Step out of retirement back into the life of crime in the shoes of the Payday Gang, the envy of their peers and the nightmare of law-enforcement wherever they go. Several years after the crew’s reign of terror over Washington DC has ended, they assemble once again to deal with the threat that roused them out of early retirement. |
| Platforms | PlayStation 5, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox Series X|S |
| Released | September 21, 2023 |
| Genre | Shooter |
| Play Modes | Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative |
| Content Rating | 19+ |
| Languages | Chinese (Simplified), English, Korean |
| Genre | Starbreeze Studios |
| Genre | Prime Matter, PLAION |
| Ratings | 65/100 (42 reviews) |
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