Exclusive: Starbreeze CEO Offers Payday 3 Update as New UK Studio Announced
In 2019, Payday 2 publisher Starbreeze Studios announced on the verge of sinkingThe studio was facing a shortage of cash on hand to keep the company running, so management sold assets to various companies to save Starbreeze Studios.
Fast-forward to the present and Starbreeze Studios is in a much better place, continuing work on Payday 3 while introducing a new studio to the UK. In an interview with IGN, his CEO of Starbreeze, Tobias Sjögren, said of the new British studio: And we shared an update on the upcoming sequel.
“[Payday 3]is going very well. We are very much looking forward to sharing more details, but at this time we are unable to do so,” Sjogren said. [other] It’s later than we actually planned to release in 2023, but it’s going to be a lot of fun. “
Sjögren also said Starbreeze is looking for a co-publisher for Payday 3. Developers Overkill Software and Starbreeze haven’t shared much else about the sequel since it was confirmed to be in development in 2021. According to game director Eric Wonevy, it’s a giant, living representation of New York City.”
A switch to the Unreal Engine could be big for Payday 3. Of course, an engine like Unreal really gives us the opportunity to focus on making the game, not the technology. “
Starbreeze opens new studio in UK
Meanwhile, Starbreeze’s new studio in the UK will work on two newly acquired IP projects. Additionally, Sjögren said Starbreeze is “definitely looking into” the possibility of purchasing more IP for the company.
The UK studio will be helmed by Cinder Cone co-founders Tancred Dyke Wells and Lawrence Bishop. The two released a game called Skeleton Crew earlier this year and have worked on Firewatch, Nintendo Art Academy, Battalion Wars and more. Sjögren said the UK made sense for his Starbreeze as the company lacked local developers.
“And one of the missing hubs was the UK. We felt there was a good opportunity to connect more people to Starbreeze from the great, really great UK development scene. I think it will help.”
With Payday 3 and other upcoming projects, Starbreeze Studios will continue to focus on the game’s live service platform. As Sjögren told us, “We definitely made a big mistake if we didn’t deliver more new content quickly after release.”
Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN covering video game and entertainment news. He has over 6 years of experience in the games industry and has bylines for IGN, Nintendo Wire, Switch Player Magazine and Lifewire. Find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.
