Starbreeze’s monetary woes have thrown up some fascinating twists in latest instances. The Swedish writer and developer practically collapsed this 12 months following a financially difficult 2018. An organization restructuring managed to maintain issues afloat and they’re within the strategy of constructing their future around Payday 3, which is popping out in 2022 or 2023. That’s one thing of a niche, one which they’re hoping to plug by restarting improvement of Payday 2 a 12 months after the gang waved goodbye. They are asking gamers to pay for extra DLC going ahead.
That final line is kind of a factor to write down as a result of Starbreeze are basically breaking a promise made to the individuals who purchased Payday 2: Ultimate Edition, a package deal that promised any future addition totally free. They’re proudly owning as much as that and asking for assist.
Here’s how issues shook out, according to Starbreeze CEO Mikael Nermark: “Late 2018 Starbreeze found itself in an acute liquidity shortfall (fancy words for: ‘we were urgently really out of cash’). In December of 2018, Starbreeze entered into ‘reconstruction’, a procedure similar to the US version of Chapter 11. On December 3rd, we only had projected cash reserves to run the company until mid-January 2019. This was how serious the situation had become.”
They’re nonetheless right here, so the reconstruction gave them time and area to plan for the long run. Bringing again Payday 2 is a great transfer. It nonetheless hovers across the center of Steam’s top 100 games. According to Nermark: “We want to move forward and make more of Payday 2, and to do so we need your support to continue producing content. New DLCs will be a mix of paid and free updates.”
For those that purchased the Ultimate Edition, that model is now going to be rebranded because the Payday 2: Legacy Collection. It’ll have all of the earlier expansions that have been developed as much as the top of 2018, however paid content material from this revived improvement interval must be bought. Newmark’s sincere about having to do that: “I know we’re breaking a promise. We do not do so with ease or take this lightly.”
They’re in a troublesome spot. Promises made to folks laying down cash can generally come again to hang-out you. If you acquire the Ultimate Edition, you’d be effectively inside your rights to be a bit miffed, however jobs are on the road. I feel I’d be understanding, given it’s a game that’s lasted six years and had quite a few free updates. Though if you happen to disagree I wouldn’t argue with you. There’s nothing to be gained in that battle.
