After a disappointing launch and then some brief moments of optimism, it seems like developer Starbreeze is stepping away from the multiplayer heist game PAYDAY 3. Despite some positive reception to recent year-one anniversary updates, it looks like the developer will be winding things down in the months ahead.
In the firm's recent financial report (thanks, IGN), Starbreeze CEO Mats Juhl caused a bit of a stir amongst hardened fans with some comments regarding the game's performance and future. Juhl started off strong and wrote: "During the quarter, both the third and fourth DLCs for Payday 3 – 'Chapter 3: Houston Breakout' and 'Chapter 4: Fear & Greed' were released. In conjunction with both launches, a lot of free content was also released to all players, including a new free heist. Both DLCs received a very positive reception from the player base, and the game's rating on Steam, among others, has taken significant steps upwards."
Changing course violently, Juhl says continued investment, at least on the same level, is no longer justified: "The level of investment during Payday 3's first year on the market, both through launched DLCs and "Operation Medic Bag", has been at an elevated level. Ahead of year two, we are confident in being able to continue delivering amounts of value to our players with a significantly lower level of investment." It's that last part that has stuck in the craw of some players over on the game's dedicated subreddit.