505 Games will retain a 33 per cent revenue share of net revenues for sales of the upcoming – and technically unannounced – Payday 3, although this will be capped at $40m and won’t start until Starbreeze has recouped its marketing and development costs.
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The transaction will give Starbreeze full rights to the franchise for any future development or “commercialization”, according to a statement on the company’s site.
It signals the end of Starbreeze and developer Overkill’s partnership with 505 Games, who brokered a deal in 2012 during development on Payday 2.
Klint went on to say that the company will continue to support Payday 2 with additional content for at least 18 months, so gamers should not worry that the acquisition means that Payday 2 will meet an instant retirement. In a press release, they also confirmed the existence of Payday 3.
The game launched successfully in August of 2013, however, in October, Overkill announced that they will add microtransactions to Payday 2. A current generation console version of the game for PS4 and Xbox One was released mid-last year.
The announcement was made during the sale, with Starbreeze purchasing the rights to the franchise for what may seem like a small $30 million.
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“The PAYDAY franchise is ours again and to celebrate it, we’re giving away a community grenade, the skills tree and we’re making the black market free for everyone going forward”. Given the strategic value for Starbreeze to control its hit franchise it is both in the short and long term a sound investment.
