In a major strategic shift, Starbreeze Studios—the developer behind the Payday series—has officially canceled its upcoming Dungeons & Dragons game, internally known as Project Baxter. The Swedish studio announced that the decision was made to reallocate resources and funding toward the continued growth and support of its most valuable franchise: Payday.
The studio’s board of directors and management unanimously approved the cancellation as part of a larger restructuring effort aimed at long-term financial stability. According to Starbreeze’s financial report, discontinuing the Dungeons & Dragons project will save approximately 255 million Swedish krona, equivalent to around $27.1 million USD, during the third quarter of the 2025 fiscal year.
Starbreeze Refocuses on Payday as Its Core IP
While the cancellation marks the end of a potentially exciting collaboration with Wizards of the Coast, Starbreeze reassured investors and fans that it remains committed to supporting its existing teams. Many of the developers who worked on Project Baxter will reportedly be reassigned to other internal projects, with most joining the Payday development division. However, the company did acknowledge that some layoffs will occur as part of the transition, adding that affected employees will be supported in finding new roles within the gaming industry.
CEO Adolf Kristjansson emphasized that the move was about strengthening the company’s long-term outlook rather than a reflection of the canceled project’s quality.
“This decision is about sharpening our focus to create the strongest long-term value for our players, our people, and our shareholders,” Kristjansson explained. “Payday has proven itself as one of the most recognized co-op action brands in gaming, and we intend to build on that foundation.”
Indeed, the Payday franchise has been a financial cornerstone for Starbreeze, generating over $425 million in lifetime revenue and engaging more than 50 million players worldwide. Following the uneven launch of Payday 3, the studio has expressed its intent to invest more aggressively in post-launch content, live-service updates, and the series’ long-term evolution.
What Was Project Baxter?
Details about Project Baxter were limited, but early reports from late 2023 suggested that the game was envisioned as a co-operative, live-service title set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe. Starbreeze described it at the time as a “larger-than-life experience” inspired by tabletop fantasy adventures. It was to blend action gameplay and RPG elements, building on the studio’s experience with team-based design from the Payday series.
Fans had speculated that Project Baxter might bring a modern, heist-style twist to the world of D&D—perhaps blending fantasy combat with team-oriented missions. However, with the project’s termination, those ideas may never see the light of day.
Kristjansson expressed his gratitude to both the internal team and Wizards of the Coast, the D&D license holder, noting that the collaboration was valuable despite the project’s early end.
“We remain proud of the work our developers accomplished and thank Wizards of the Coast for their partnership. Even though Project Baxter won’t move forward, the creativity and learnings from this experience will strengthen our future titles,” he added.
Looking Ahead
Starbreeze’s decision underscores a growing industry trend—major studios are increasingly doubling down on proven, revenue-generating IPs rather than taking risks on ambitious new licenses. With the live-service gaming market becoming increasingly competitive, the company appears determined to secure Payday’s position as its flagship brand.
While the cancellation of the Dungeons & Dragons project will disappoint fans hoping for a new fantasy co-op adventure, Starbreeze’s renewed focus could lead to significant improvements in Payday 3 and future Payday experiences. For now, it seems the company’s dice-rolling adventures have come to an early end—at least until another studio dares to take up the challenge.