Payday developer Starbreeze cancels Dungeons and Dragons project to focus on its flagship franchise, two years after it was announced

Starbreeze has cancelled its Dungeons and Dragons project to focus on its flagship Payday franchise.

Codenamed Project Baxter, it was revealed back in 2023 and was aiming for a 2026 release. Few details were available, but it was planned to have “the signature Starbreeze game cornerstones of co-operative multiplayer, lifetime commitment through a Games as a Service-model, community engagement and a larger than life experience”.

However, following a “strategic review”, development has been discontinued as the board of directors and management have “concluded that resources are best deployed to accelerate the growth of” the Payday series.

As a result, the studio will incur a non-cash impairment of around SEK 255m (around £20m).

“This was a difficult but necessary decision,” said Adolf Kristjansson, CEO of Starbreeze, in a press release.

“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.”