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The game studio Starbreeze announced on Thursday that it has terminated its cooperative D&D title, codenamed Baxter. This cancellation forms a key element in the company's strategic pivot to re-focusing on its Payday franchise, whose most recent game was released in 2023 with Payday 3.

A Tough but Necessary Choice

"It was a difficult but required decision," Chief Executive Officer of Starbreeze stated in an announcement. A portion of the Project Baxter team will be transferred to different initiatives, primarily within the company's efforts on the Payday series. Some developers, though, will apparently be let go as a result of this cancellation, with the announcement noting, "Where internal opportunities are scarce, the company will provide active support for affected employees to transition to new roles across the industry."

Project Baxter: Initial Vision and Development

Project Baxter was originally announced in 2023. The developer indicated at the time it would "include the signature game cornerstones" of the studio, which it identified as co-op multiplayer, a "lifetime commitment" to it as a games-as-a-service title, and player interaction. Project Baxter was meant to release in 2026. The studio hadn't shared much on Project Baxter after that, though it did show off some concept art and an technical screenshot from the game approximately one year prior.

Concentrating on the Payday Franchise

Terminating Baxter is in service to the developer's Payday franchise, which the studio is prioritizing. "Our strategy is to intensify efforts on what our fans love – and what we do best – owning the crime-heist category," the CEO remarked.

Starbreeze released Payday 3 in 2023 to a mixed reception, with certain evaluations pointing out that "Even if the immediate action has been enhanced, the soul of the series is clearly in the mechanics that support it, which is where this third installment is sorely lacking." It allegedly did not achieve projected revenue.

Future Prospects for D&D Video Games

As for fans of Dungeons & Dragons looking to enjoy more video games inspired by the franchise, options are available, such as Baldur's Gate 3 getting a dedicated version for Steam Deck. Moreover, the creative lead of the Star Wars Jedi games is also working on an untitled AAA D&D game, though it is likely a few years away.