In an unexpected turn of events, Starbreeze Studios secretly gave the pink slip to several developers of the popular game Payday in December 2020, according to a recent uncovering by 80.lv.
Starbreeze’s Silent Move
The renowned studio Starbreeze,wich is behind the making of the highly popular cooperative first-person shooter video game Payday,made the silent move of laying off several developers in December of last year,without making any public announcement regarding the same. It was not until 80.lv broke this story that the silent dismissal came to light.
Sudden Dismissals amidst Tight-Lipped Affairs
According to sources, the dismissals came as a shock to many. The developers were allegedly not given any prior notice and were awakened to this unpleasant surprise in December. With the continuous global pandemic, this was undoubtedly a tough blow to take. Starbreeze has remained silent about the matter thus far. No formal announcements were made regarding the dismissal or the possible reasons behind it, leaving many questions unanswered.
Starbreeze’s Tough Times
Its no secret that Starbreeze has been navigating through some choppy waters over the last few years. The company fell into financial dire straits in 2018 with the underwhelming and unsuccessful launch of its sci-fi shooter game, Overkill’s the Walking Dead, which was later pulled from Steam.
Following this financial crisis, Starbreeze had to sell off many of its assets and refocus its energy on successful brands, like Payday.
Payday 3: An Uncertain Future
The Payday franchise has been immensely popular over the years with its unique premise and gameplay experience. The news of stealthy developer dismissals now begs the question about the future of Payday 3, which is known to be in development and expected to launch in 2023.
while Starbreeze announced in October 2020 that the design phase of Payday 3 had been completed, not much else is known about the game’s development progress. The unexpected letting go of its developers is bound to have an impact on the game’s development,but the full extent of it remains to be seen.
What’s Next for Starbreeze?
Although Starbreeze has refocused itself on developing Payday 3, the unexplained lay-offs are certainly worrisome. In the best-case scenario, the company consolidates its efforts into meeting its development goals for Payday 3. It may also focus on leveraging other existing assets to sail through these tough times.
However, in the worst-case scenario, Starbreeze may continue to brave the storm with additional asset sales or game delays that further impact its already shaky financial situation. For now, it seems that the risks associated with this latest move weigh heavily on the developers and gamers alike.
The tale of Starbreeze and the sudden dismissal of its Payday developers is a reminder of the fragile and unpredictable nature of the video game industry and the challenges it poses for both, the developers and the studios. With the fate of Payday 3 hanging in the balance, fans, gamers, and critics will be watching Starbreeze’s next move closely.
