Starbreeze Scraps Project Baxter to Rebuild the Payday Franchise
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Starbreeze Studios has canceled its Dungeons and Dragons game, Project Baxter, to redirect resources and approximately $27.1 million toward supporting the Payday franchise, resulting in studio restructuring and team reallocations.
Starbreeze Studios has officially pulled the plug on Project Baxter, its ambitious Dungeons and Dragons game that was first announced back in December 2023. According to a report by Matthew Schomer at Game Rant, the cancellation is a strategic pivot approved by the studio board to redirect financial resources toward the core Payday franchise. By shutting down the fantasy project, Starbreeze expects to save roughly $27.1 million USD in the third quarter of its 2025 fiscal year.
The decision comes at a time when the broader gaming landscape has proven that tabletop adaptations can achieve massive critical and commercial success. Larian Studios famously dominated award shows with Baldur's Gate 3, and players clearly have an appetite for digital tabletop experiences. However, Starbreeze is opting for a safer play after a rocky road with Payday 3, choosing to consolidate its internal teams and double down on the cooperative shooter franchise that put the studio on the map.
While leadership noted that a portion of the development team will be reallocated to other internal projects, the studio also confirmed that some layoffs are unavoidable. Starbreeze has stated it will offer transition support for affected workers. For players and community members, this move signals a definitive shift away from diversification and a concentrated effort to salvage and expand the live service ecosystem of Payday moving forward.
Tags: Starbreeze, Payday, Dungeons and Dragons, Gaming Industry, Game Rant
Original article: Game Rant