Payday 3 had a very rocky launch, and despite the team’s best efforts to turn things around, it sounds like the game hit way below expectations for Starbreeze. According to the developer, Payday 3 player count and sales are currently “significantly lower” than they expected.
In Starbreeze’s 2023 year-end report, a note from CEO Tobias Sjögren reveals how the company’s viewed Payday 3’s first few months of performance:
“PAYDAY 3’s sales and player activity are currently at significantly lower levels than we would like. Our biggest focus and absolute priority, both during and after the quarter, are the efforts needed to ensure that the game lives up to expectations. We are working closely with our co-publishing partner Plaion to identify the changes that we will implement, in both the short- and long-term, that add the most value to the gaming experience. The PAYDAY team will in February announce the changes and improvements that are prioritized for implementation.”
Despite the game’s poor performance, Starbreeze is still keen on turning it around and making it a successful product and enjoyable game for players. They’ve expressed a strong intent to listen to players’ criticism and take it to heart to transform Payday 3 into something that people are excited to play.
While it doesn’t always happen, it’s certainly possible to turn a game with a bad launch into a beloved title with a devoted player-base. Games like No Man’s Sky and Final Fantasy XIV are key examples of this phenomenon. Hopefully, Payday 3 will one day be able to add itself to that list. We’re rooting for the team.
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Source: Starbreeze Entertainment