Starbreeze has agreed to fully acquire the publishing rights for Payday 3 from Plaion to “pursue broader strategic opportunities” for the embattled franchise.
Payday 3 sales decreased dramatically during the last fiscal year—tumbling to $7.7 million in FY2024 from $44.5 million in FY2023.
Starbreeze conceded the title was massively underperforming within months of its September 2023 launch, and embarked upon a rehabilitation program it claims is now well underway.
Big changes at Starbreeze enabled the Payday 3 deal
With the threequel and its wider business flagging, Starbeeze ousted then-CEO Tobias Sjogren to appoint a new leader capable of executing a strategy “centered around creating attractive games on our own and licensed IPs.” EA veteran Adolf Kristjansson stepped into the vacant leadership role back in March.
Now, the company has reached a mutual agreement with Embracer subsidiary Plaion that will allow it to assume full publishing responsibility for Payday 3. “This [deal] will enable Starbreeze to accelerate content development and pursue broader business opportunities for the Payday franchise as a whole,” reads an investor update.
“While this agreement marks the conclusion of the current publishing arrangement, it also lays the groundwork for a long-term partnership between Starbreeze and Plaion on future Payday franchise projects.”
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Starbreeze has issued new shares representing 10 percent of its outstanding share capital to finance the transaction.
The directed share issue amounts of a total of approximately SEK 33 million ($3.45 million) before transaction costs, which are estimated to be around SEK 250,000. SEK 29 million of the proceeds will also be used to repay Plaion and settle certain outstanding claims under the previous agreement relating to Payday 3.