Starbreeze’s Payday 3: A Flop in the Making?
Ah, the world of video games—a rich tapestry of dreams, excitement, and apparently, significant levels of disappointment. Starbreeze, the developer behind the much-anticipated Payday 3, has recently landed itself in hot water again. According to statements from acting CEO Mats Juhl, the company is planning on a “significantly lower level of investment” in the game’s second year. That’s corporate speak for “grab your life jackets, the ship’s about to sink!”
Now, let’s take a moment to appreciate the rollercoaster that is Payday 3. Following a launch that could only be described as “disastrous”—and trust me, I’ve seen better starts from a toddler on a tricycle—Starbreeze seemed to turn things around after the first-year anniversary updates were released. These updates were met with applause from players who were, I dare say, just a little too optimistic about the future of their beloved co-op heist shooter. Consequently, it might have seemed like they’d actually learned something. Spoiler alert: they haven’t.
Now, with Steam reviews dancing in the “mostly positive” department like a contestant on “Dancing With the Stars,” players went from cautiously hopeful to thematically devastated in record time. Juhl, in another corporate gem, hinted that the focus would be moving to the development of a Dungeons & Dragons game—Project Baxter. Nothing like choosing fantasy battles over the gritty world of heists. One group’s treasure hunt is another group’s bank robbery, folks!
“During the quarter, both the third and fourth DLCs for Payday 3 – ‘Chapter 3: Houston Breakout’ and ‘Chapter 4: Fear & Greed’ were released… The level of investment during Payday 3’s first year on the market… has been at an elevated level. Ahead of year two, we are confident in being able to continue delivering amounts of value to our players with a significantly lower level of investment.”
This statement, or rather the last line, has certainly rustled some feathers. Players are viewing it as a slick way of saying, “Thanks for your money; we’ll be over here creating something else while you enjoy your painfully subpar experience!” How’s that for customer service?
The vitriol from players has been palpable. The Steam reviews read like fan mail turned hate mail. “Dead game,” says one review. “Dropping this game as soon as it started to show promise is insane,” echoes another. It’s as if players woke up one morning, pricked their fingers on a broken promise and then spilled their frustrations everywhere like a three-year-old with a juice box. And let’s not even get started on Reddit—players are practically sharpening pitchforks and lighting torches in protest.
Not to be outdone by the drama, Juhl has reassured us that Starbreeze is still standing strong with a “healthy balance sheet” and is somehow doing better than ever despite the rainbow of consumer discontent. Meanwhile, it appears “Payday 2” is benefiting from players who’d rather put their time and money into a decade-old game than watch a new one tumble down the rabbit hole of mediocre design.
So, what does this all mean for Payday 3? Well, the truth is, it resembles a game of Monopoly where the chance cards keep telling you to “go back three spaces, lose a turn, and pay rent on Boardwalk.” Unless Starbreeze can wave a magic wand (or perhaps a loaded die?) to regain the trust of their player base, the future looks as murky as the muddy waters of a second-rate heist simmering out of control. Hopefully, their next update is more than just a polite nod to past glories—because right now, not even a blindfolded gamble could save it.
So, dear reader, grab your virtual masks and prepare to navigate through this heist gone awry. Because if Starbreeze thinks they can just pivot to D&D without fixing the holes in their own game, they might find themselves rolling the dice with a two rather than a twelve, if you catch my drift.
Oh! And don’t forget to check in often. Who knows? Maybe Starbreeze will find their treasure map and lead us back to the vault where we all left our hopes for this game!
Payday 3 developer Starbreeze has ignited significant backlash after announcing its intentions to reduce investment in the game during its second year, a move that has left many fans disheartened.
Starbreeze’s tumultuous journey with Payday 3 after a rocky launch has been widely reported. However, the developer’s recent anniversary updates managed to resonate well with players, sparking hope for similarly substantial content in the future. One notable statistic is that Payday 3’s Steam user reviews currently hover around ‘mostly positive’, but the overall review score sits at ‘mixed’, indicating lingering dissatisfaction.
The turning point for player sentiment arose from comments made by acting CEO Mats Juhl during a financial report, wherein he mentioned a concerning shift in focus towards their upcoming Dungeons & Dragons title.
The turmoil stems from Juhl’s statement regarding the anticipated levels of investment in Payday 3’s second year compared to the first, with the latter fully reproduced for context.
During the quarter, both the third and fourth DLCs for Payday 3 – “Chapter 3: Houston Breakout” and “Chapter 4: Fear & Greed” were released. In conjunction with both launches, a lot of free content was also released to all players, including a new free heist. Both DLCs received a very positive reception from the player base and the game’s rating on Steam, among others, has taken significant steps upwards. The game’s MAU (monthly active players) is holding steady considering that we in September left Xbox GamePass. The level of investment during Payday 3’s first year on the market, both through launched DLCs and “Operation Medic Bag”, has been at an elevated level. Ahead of year two, we are confident in being able to continue delivering amounts of value to our players with a significantly lower level of investment.
The contentious phrase “significantly lower level of investment” has raised alarm bells among its player base, many of whom suspect that the game’s future is being sacrificed for the development of Project Baxter. Juhl also mentioned that production on Project Baxter has been fast-tracked, including the acquisition of licensing fees to Wizards of the Coast, indicating a shift in project priorities as the team gears for Payday 3’s next phase with a smaller workforce.
Disaffected gamers have voiced their feelings through Steam reviews, illustrating their frustration with stark comments like, “Dead game,” and “Dropping this game as soon as it started to show promise is insane.” Players are vocalizing their fears that executive decisions are jeopardizing the game’s recovery potential before it can truly get back on its feet. “Save your money and the headache; Payday 3’s future is genuinely grim,” lamented another disgruntled reviewer.
The backlash against Starbreeze has spilled over onto the Payday subreddit, where fans echo similar concerns regarding the studio’s increased focus on Project Baxter.
Despite the growing dissent, Starbreeze maintains a sense of optimism about Payday 3’s prospects. “Starbreeze remains financially strong, with a healthy balance sheet almost free of debt and a cash position to execute our strategy,” Juhl stated. “Sales of Payday 3 still have great potential to improve, which is offset somewhat by continued relatively stable sales of Payday 2 and third-party publishing of, among other things, Roboquest.”
In a notable contrast, Payday 2 appears to still capture player interest, with a peak of 27,553 concurrent players on Steam as opposed to Payday 3’s mere 1,314, despite the former being more than a decade old. Recently, the director of Payday 3, Miodrag Kovačević, stepped down from his position, transitioning to a role as a designer. Meanwhile, lead producer Andreas Penninger and global brand director Almir Listo have been appointed as the interim creative leads for the game.
As for Project Baxter, Starbreeze continues actively hiring to bolster its development team, signaling commitment to this new direction. “Internally, we have weekly playtests of Baxter, and are in active discussions with industry-leading players regarding potential collaborations for Baxter’s development and launch,” Juhl remarked, noting that Starbreeze currently employs a total of 191 staff, with most located at the headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].
What are the key reasons behind the disconnect between Starbreeze and the Payday community?
Rifies that while Starbreeze maintains a “healthy balance sheet,” the community sentiment suggests a deep disconnect between the company and its player base. As players divert their attention back to the older title, **Payday 2**, it indicates a growing dissatisfaction with how the sequel is being handled and a yearning for meaningful content that aligns with their expectations.
In these critical times, the future of **Payday 3** hangs in the balance. Players are not just seeking reassurance; they desire a clear commitment from Starbreeze to invest in its community and restore faith in the franchise. Until that happens, any talk of lower investment and shifting focus will likely be met with skepticism and disdain.
To summarize, the announcement regarding a reduction in investment has ignited controversy and dissatisfaction among players, who fear that future updates will be insufficient to salvage the game after a rocky start. Without tangible improvements or dedicated support, **Payday 3** may continue to struggle as fans reminisce about the days spent in **Payday 2**, eagerly hoping that Starbreeze will eventually heed their calls for better stewardship of the franchise.