Starbreeze Cancels Co-op Dungeons & Dragons Game Known as Project Baxter

Developer Starbreeze announced this Thursday that it has canceled its cooperative D&D title, referred to as Project Baxter. This decision is part of the company's strategic pivot to re-focusing on its Payday franchise, whose latest installment launched in 2023 with Payday 3.

A Difficult but Necessary Choice

"It was a challenging but required decision," Starbreeze CEO commented in a public statement. A portion of the development team for Baxter will be transferred to other projects, mostly within the company's efforts on the Payday series. A number of staff, however, will seemingly be laid off as a result of this cancellation, with the statement explaining, "Where internal opportunities are limited, the company will provide active support for affected employees to transition to different positions across the industry."

Project Baxter: Original Plans and Development

Project Baxter was originally announced in 2023. The developer noted at the time it would "include the distinctive core elements" of the company, which it identified as cooperative online play, a "long-term dedication" to it as a service game, and community engagement. Project Baxter was scheduled to release in 2026. The studio hadn't shared extensive details on the project since, though it did show off some design visuals and an technical screenshot from the game about a year ago.

Focusing on the Payday Franchise

Canceling Project Baxter supports Starbreeze's Payday franchise, which the studio is turning its focus toward. "We are doubling down on what our fans love – and what we do best – owning the crime-heist category," the CEO remarked.

Starbreeze launched Payday 3 in 2023 to a varied response, with certain evaluations stating that "Although the moment-to-moment gameplay has been enhanced, the soul of the series is evidently in the mechanics that surround it, which is where this third installment is significantly deficient." It reportedly failed to meet sales expectations.

What's Next for D&D Gaming

Regarding fans of Dungeons & Dragons looking to enjoy more video games based on the franchise, alternatives are available, such as Baldur's Gate 3 recently receiving a native Steam Deck build. Moreover, the director of the Star Wars Jedi games is also working on an unannounced major D&D project, though it is likely a distant release.