Payday 3 makes its money back, but rocky start hampers future profits

Payday 3, the long-anticipated sequel from developer Starbreeze, initially showed strong sales figures and achieved 3.1 million players shortly after launch. Despite such promising numbers, the title has faced significant challenges post-launch, including server issues and subpar communication with the gaming community, leading to apologies from Starbreeze CEO Tobias Sjögren. However, Payday 2 still remains more popular than its successor on Steam.

The investment in Payday 3 was recouped by the end of September, within two weeks of its release, and its financial performance includes impressive net sales figures of SEK 441 million (around $41.6 million). This success was helped by the game's availability on Xbox Game Pass from day one. Yet, due to the rocky launch, the profit outlook for Embracer Group, the parent company of publisher Plaion, is not as high as expected.

Focusing on the future, Payday 3 is transitioning into the live service model, offering new content and improvements. In November, players can expect two free heists along with additional enhancements like new animations and skins. Starbreeze is already planning new content for the following year, with four DLCs being just the beginning of their roadmap.

Beyond Payday 3, Starbreeze has made a shift with some team members moving on to a new cooperative multiplayer game known as Project Baxter. While details remain under wraps, it's hinted that the game will be based on an existing IP and embrace Starbreeze's expertise in cooperative multiplayer experiences.

The next phase for Payday 3 and the diverse future projects under Starbreeze hint at an ambitious plan to recapture the trust of players and to solidify their position in the gaming industry as a provider of enthralling cooperative experiences.