A new announcement by Starbreeze confirms that the upcoming Dungeons and Dragons title (codenamed Baxter) has been cancelled.
Starbreeze, the developers of Payday, announced a new Dungeons and Dragons live-service title back in 2023, slated to release in 2026, which would receive “lifetime commitment through a Games as a Service model, community engagement, and a larger than life experience.” In 2024, the development was “growing as planned” and “continues at full speed.” However, now they have decided to discontinue development of the title.
Starbreeze Abandons Dungeons and Dragons Project to focus on Payday.
Spotted by Eurogamer, Starbreeze has confirmed its “difficult but necessary decision” to cancel the upcoming Dungeons and Dragons game. After a strategic review, the developers have come to the conclusion that their “resources are best deployed to accelerate the growth of Starbreeze’s flagship PAYDAY franchise.”
Due to the cancellation of the project, the company will face “a non-cash impairment of approximately SEK 255 million in the third quarter of 2025 related to previously capitalized development costs.”
Here’s what the CEO of Starbreeze, Adolf Kristjansson, shared:
“This was a difficult but necessary decision. Our strategy is clear: PAYDAY is one of the most iconic IPs in gaming, with unmatched reach and potential. By focusing our investment and talent here, we can accelerate delivery, engage players with more content, and reinforce Starbreeze’s position as the clear leader in the heisting genre. This is about sharpening our focus to create the strongest long-term value for our players, our people, and our shareholders.”
Next Steps
The press release adds that a “part of the Baxter team will be redeployed across Starbreeze’s projects, most prominently within PAYDAY.” The company also stated that it will provide support for affected employees to transition to new roles when the internal opportunities are limited. The statement added that “headcount will be reduced by approximately 44 FTEs across employees and contractors, leading to a lower cost base going forward.”
The release also discusses the Payday franchise’s expansion to over 50 million players worldwide, generating close to SEK 4 billion in lifetime gross revenue. The team will continue to provide new content for the game, which will include more frequent updates, new content drops, and continuous live engagement. The team also plans to expand the Payday franchise into other experiences and markets.
What are your thoughts on Starbreeze cancelling Project Baxter, a Dungeons and Dragons live service title? Let us know through the official Insider Gaming forums discussion.
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