The release of Payday 3 in 2023 turned out to be a major disappointment, with negative reviews, a low Steam rating, and fans opting to stick with Payday 2 instead. Following the game’s failure to meet sales targets, the CEO of the developer was ousted as the company seeks new leadership.
Upon its launch in September 2023, Payday 3 encountered numerous issues, including server problems, faulty matchmaking, and PS5 players being stuck with an outdated version of the game. Even after these initial problems were resolved, the game still lacked essential features such as a solo mode, quickplay option, and player kick voting. In response to player feedback, the developers announced plans to address these shortcomings and improve the game’s overall experience.
Despite these efforts, Payday 3 struggled to attract players, with fewer than 400 daily users on Steam compared to over 25,000 for Payday 2. As a result of the game’s poor performance, the CEO was removed from his position in March 2024. The company’s board of directors cited the need for “different leadership” to execute their strategy of creating compelling games based on their own and licensed IPs.
Former CEO Sjögren will assist in the transition process as the company searches for a new permanent leader. The interim CEO, Juergen Goeldner, brings over 40 years of industry experience to the role. Starbreeze has faced challenges in recent years, including a police raid in 2018 and insider trading investigations. Despite these setbacks, the company remains committed to delivering engaging gaming experiences to its audience.
