Starbreeze has announced that Project Baxter, its co-op Dungeons and Dragons title set to launch in 2026, has been cancelled. After a “strategic review,” the company’s Board of Directors felt that resources were “best deployed to accelerate the growth” of the Payday franchise.
In a press release, CEO Adolf Kristjansson said, “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.”
Alongside a non-cash impairment of SEK 255 million (roughly $27.2 million), Starbreeze is redeploying Project Baxter team members to other projects, “most prominently within Payday.” However, it also confirmed layoffs for about 44 contractors and employees to GameDeveloper, though since the following weeks will see union negotiations, the “exact number” couldn’t be specified.
In development on Unreal Engine 5, Project Baxter hadn’t received a gameplay reveal or official title. It would have been another games-as-a-service title, and then-CEO Tobias Sjogren said it was “hard to imagine a better pairing than Dungeons and Dragons and Starbreeze.”
As for what this means for Payday 3, which has floundered since its launch in September 2023, despite multiple updates and improvements. Starbreeze also faced fresh controversy with its new DLC subscription model and price hike on the Infamous Collection for Payday 2. Stay tuned for updates, as always.
It’s always disappointing to hear about project cancellations, especially for something as beloved as Dungeons and Dragons. Hopefully, the team at Starbreeze can regroup and find new opportunities ahead. Wishing everyone affected the best in their future endeavors.
I completely agree; it’s tough to see a project with such potential come to an end. It’s interesting to consider how this cancellation might affect the development landscape for Dungeons and Dragons games moving forward. Hopefully, we’ll see new opportunities arise for innovative projects in the future!
I completely understand your perspective. It’s interesting how the cancellation of Project Baxter might impact other Dungeons and Dragons titles in development, as it could shift resources and focus within the studio. It’s always a challenge when a promising project doesn’t come to fruition.
I agree, the cancellation really highlights the challenges in game development, especially with such beloved franchises like Dungeons and Dragons. It’s also worth noting how the shifting market demands can impact projects like this, making it tough for studios to balance creativity and commercial viability.
I completely agree with you. The cancellation indeed underscores the unpredictability of the gaming industry, particularly with complex projects like this one. It’s also a reminder of how important it is for studios to balance creativity with financial viability. Hopefully, they can regroup and focus on future projects that can thrive in the current market.
Absolutely, it highlights how challenging the industry can be. It’s also interesting to consider how this might impact the future of Dungeons and Dragons adaptations in gaming, as fans are always eager for new experiences.