Summary
Starbreeze Studios, the developer behindPayday 3, has announced an exciting update happening behind the scenes, and the change directly affects the sequel’s development.Payday 3is a co-op FPS that was first launched in 2023, serving as a direct sequel to its 2013 predecessor. Set after the events ofPayday 2, the third installment sees the titular gang return to form after going their separate ways, including the original crew members Dallas, Chains, Wolf, and Hoxton, alongside Joy, Houston, Clover, Jacket, and new character Pearl.
Swedish developer Starbreeze had previously developedPayday 2, and other notable projects, such asOverkill’s The Walking Dead,Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, andThe Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena. Additionally, the Starbreeze team is currently working on an untitledDungeons & Dragonsproject with Wizards of the Coast, which is expected to be ready in 2026. As a treat for fans of the series,Payday 3was added to the list offree PS Plus games for February 2025that are available to play now, joining the likes ofPac-Man World: Re-PacandHigh on Life.
Announced in a blog post, Starbreeze confirmed it had acquired the publishing rights toPayday 3, following previous reports that statedStarbreeze was looking to invest less inPayday 3during year two. The statement noted the developer had “reached a mutual agreement” with former publisher Plaion, and the move was financed by Starbreeze’s new shares, with SEK 29m (approximately $3m) of the worth being invested into repaying Plaion to settle “outstanding claims.”
Starbreeze Studios Acquires Payday 3 Rights
Speaking aboutPayday 3’s development after the acquisition, Starbreeze board member Thomas Lindgren shared that the acquisition would allow the developer to “significantly accelerate [its] content development roadmap, and pursue broader strategic opportunities for the Payday franchise as a whole.” It’s no secret that the anticipated sequel did not have a successful start, withPayday 3gaining mostly negative reviews on Steamshortly after its launch. Matchmaking issues and constant server problems plagued gameplay for the majority of players, and the community also requested an offline mode, so fans could play solo.
Payday 3fans should also mark May 26on their calendars, adding to the excitement of Starbreeze’s acquisition. The team behind the shooter teased that new content would be dropping on this date, and the news seemed like a direct response to the players who have recently been asking for new content to be added to the sequel.Payday 3’s future looks much brighter with the promise of added content and a shift in gear regarding development.
