Starbreeze Cancels D&D Co-Op Game Project Baxter to Refocus on PAYDAY Franchise

Starbreeze Cancels Project Baxter: A Shift in Focus to PAYDAY

This morning, Starbreeze Studios announced the cancellation of Project Baxter, the highly anticipated cooperative game set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe. Originally revealed in December 2023, this decision marks a pivotal shift for the Swedish game developer, as they will now concentrate on their core intellectual property, PAYDAY. Starbreeze’s CEO, Adolf Kristjansson, articulated the company’s new strategic direction:

I want to sincerely thank the Baxter team for their passion and creativity, and express appreciation to Wizards of the Coast for their support. Though we have made the decision to not continue forward with this project, we are proud of what was achieved in Baxter, and those contributions will carry forward into PAYDAY and the future of Starbreeze. By concentrating our efforts on PAYDAY, we give Starbreeze and all our employees the best chance to succeed.

The Background of Project Baxter

Initially scheduled for a 2026 release, Project Baxter never progressed beyond the pre-production phase as of February 2024. This timeline raised doubts about its viability as the studio faced mounting challenges. The cancellation appears to stem from a combination of project difficulties and a pressing need to revitalize the PAYDAY franchise, which has faced backlash following the release of PAYDAY 3 and the subsequent controversy regarding a new subscription model and a price hike for the Infamous Collection DLC bundle—changes that were later reversed.

Financial Implications and Workforce Reductions

The discontinuation of Project Baxter results in a significant write-off of approximately $27 million. Additionally, this decision will lead to layoffs affecting around 44 employees, comprising internal developers and external contractors, further underscoring the impact of this cancellation on the team and studio.

Future Prospects for Dungeons & Dragons Games

As a devoted fan of Dungeons & Dragons, the cancellation raises concerns about the future of similar projects within the franchise. However, fans can still look forward to an exciting lineup of upcoming games, including Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked slated for release in 2025, a new title from Invoke, and an action-adventure project being developed by Giant Skull.

Moreover, the president of Wizards of the Coast hinted at the possibility of a new D&D MMORPG. Nonetheless, he tempered expectations by suggesting that such a project is not on the immediate horizon.

Perhaps one day, fans will get a glimpse of what Project Baxter might have become, akin to the footage released of the abandoned D&D open-world RPG developed by Hidden Path.

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