Starbreeze, the developer of the Payday series, has announced the appointment of a new CEO – Adolf Kristjansson. He’s an industry veteran who comes across from a role as senior director of global commercial strategy at Electronic Arts. In a statement, Kristjansson revealed his intentions to turn Starbreeze into a ‘multi-title studio’.
Last year, Tobias Sjögren, the former CEO of Starbreeze, stepped down following the paltry launch of Payday 3, a game that was plagued with issues.
‘Great Enthusiasm’
In a statement following his appointment, former EA veteran Adolf Kristjansson said:
I join Starbreeze with great enthusiasm for the company’s current and future projects, not the least the upcoming Dungeons & Dragons title. I look forward to continuing the work of expanding the Payday franchise further and building Starbreeze into a true multi-title studio.
Most of all, I look forward to working closely with our talented teams and engaging with our passionate player community as we build the next chapter of Starbreeze together
Chariman of the Board, Jürgen Goeldner said:
On behalf of the board I want to welcome Adolf to Starbreeze and I look forward to a long and fruitful cooperation. I also want to take the opportunity to thank Mats Juhl for his great contribution during his period as interim CEO
The last couple of years have been nothing short of rocky for Starbreeze, which reported a full-year loss of almost $20 million in December 2024. Things have picked up since reparations were made in the game, and now that Payday 3 has been available for a stint on PS Plus, the player count has climbed a bit.
Could things be looking up for Starbreeze? Let me know your thoughts in the comments or over on the Insider Gaming forum.
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Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
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