The developer Discontinues Cooperative Dungeons & Dragons Game Known as Baxter
Developer Starbreeze revealed this Thursday that it has canceled its cooperative D&D title, referred to as Project Baxter. This decision forms a key element in the company's strategic pivot to concentrating efforts on its Payday franchise, whose latest installment was released in 2023 with Payday 3.
A Tough but Necessary Decision
"It was a challenging but necessary decision," Starbreeze CEO commented in a public statement. Part of the Project Baxter team will be transferred to different initiatives, primarily within the company's efforts on Payday. A number of staff, however, will seemingly be laid off as a result of this cancellation, with the statement noting, "Where internal opportunities are limited, the company will offer assistance for affected employees to move to new roles across the industry."
Project Baxter: Original Plans and Progress
Project Baxter was originally announced in 2023. Starbreeze indicated at the time it would "include the signature game cornerstones" of the company, which it identified as cooperative online play, a "lifetime commitment" to it as a games-as-a-service title, and player interaction. Project Baxter was scheduled to launch in 2026. Starbreeze hadn't shared extensive details on the project after that, though it did show off some design visuals and an in-engine still from the game about a year ago.
Concentrating on the Payday Brand
Canceling Baxter is in service to the developer's Payday franchise, which the studio is prioritizing. "We are doubling down on what our players love – and what we do best – owning the heisting genre," the CEO said.
The company launched Payday 3 in 2023 to a varied response, with some reviews stating that "Even if the moment-to-moment gameplay has been enhanced, the essence of Payday is evidently in the systems that surround it, which is where this threequel is significantly deficient." It reportedly did not achieve projected revenue.
What's Next for D&D Video Games
Regarding fans of Dungeons & Dragons looking to play more video games based on the franchise, alternatives exist, such as Baldur's Gate 3 getting a native Steam Deck build. Moreover, the creative lead of the Jedi series is developing an untitled AAA D&D game, though it is probably a few years away.