Starbreeze CEO Tobias Sjögren ousted by board following Payday 3 flop

Tobias Sjögren has been faraway from his function as CEO of developer Starbreeze after the corporate’s board concluded the studio “wants a special management” to execute its present enterprise technique. The announcement follows a disastrous launch for final yr’s Payday 3, which remains to be struggling to draw gamers in important numbers.

Starbreeze’s board introduced Sjögren’s removing in a notice to traders, including that board member – and former CEO of Focus Residence interactive – Juergen Goeldner could be serving as interim CEO because the recruitment course of for a everlasting alternative will get underway.

“The corporate has a transparent technique centred round creating enticing video games on our personal and licensed IPs,” Starbreeze chairman Torgny Hellström stated of at this time’s administration modifications. “The board’s consolidated evaluation is that the execution of technique wants a special management. Juergen Goeldner has been a part of the board since 2023 and, with over 40 years of business expertise, is a powerful interim resolution”.

Sjögren grew to become Starbreeze’s interim CEO in 2020 – overseeing the studio’s continued revitalisation following extreme monetary points and near-collapse – earlier than changing into everlasting CEO in 2021. Since then, Starbreeze has been targeted on Payday 3 as its subsequent main income driver, however a disastrous launch final yr didn’t entice gamers away from Payday 2.

In February this yr, Starbreeze admitted Payday 3 participant exercise was “presently at considerably decrease ranges than [it] would love”, however stated it had plans to “be certain that the sport lives as much as expectations”. The sport’s fortunes have but to enhance, nevertheless; Payday 3’s concurrent participant depend is 287 on Steam versus Payday 2’s 29,167 on the time of writing.

In a press release asserting his appointment as new Starbreeze interim CEO, Juergen Goeldner stated, “After launching Payday 3, the corporate is well-positioned to leverage the strengths of the organisation to monetise and develop the IP portfolio.” Starbreeze is presently engaged on a Dungeons and Dragons sport, anticipated to launch in 2026.