Clearly all is not going well for PayDay 3, which appears to be struggling to build on the success of its predecessor. To the point that the studio made a pretty radical decision.
Starbreeze Studios has announced a significant decrease in content investment for Payday 3 in its second year. A decision that is particularly surprising after a complicated start. However, the studio wants to be calming. He promises that this reduction will not impact the quality or quantity of new features offered to players.
The beginning of the end for Payday 3?
According to Starbreeze, Payday 2 continues to generate 50% of its associated revenue franchise, proving its impressive longevity. Meanwhile, Payday 3 struggles to build community loyalty. The start, which was marred by technical problems, left a bitter taste in the mouth of many players.
Despite these difficult beginnings, Starbreeze worked hard to improve the game. Within a year, the studio released four major DLCs and numerous updates. These include a new user interface, a server browser and VoIP, all additions that have helped improve the game’s image.
However, the company believes that it is possible to maintain content quality with less investment. In short: Produce better with fewer resources.
A strategy focused on the future
This reduction in investment does not mean that Starbreeze is abandoning Payday 3. New content will continue to be added in 2025, although the pace may be less sustainable. The goal is to meet player expectations while optimizing available resources. This approach could well pay off if it helps keep players interested while developing ambitious projects. But everything will depend on Payday 3’s ability to continue to appeal to a demanding community.
At the same time, Starbreeze is focusing on other projects, such as the Baxter project. This new game seems to occupy a central place in the studio’s plans for the coming years. By diversifying, Starbreeze hopes to strengthen its position in an increasingly competitive market.
Source: Starbreeze
