Starbreeze buys Payday rights from 505, scraps microtransactions

Payday 2’s controversial microtransactions have been scrapped as part of a deal that sees developer Starbreeze assume complete control of the franchise.

The Swedish studio has said that it has acquired the full rights to the game from 505, which itself acquired a financial stake in the developer in early 2015.

Starbreeze’s first move has been to strip Payday 2’s controversial microtransactions system. It has also confirmed Payday 3, and revealed that 505 will take a 33 per cent share of its revenues after Starbreeze has recouped its development and marketing costs.

Regarding Payday 2, Starbreeze will have any future PC revenue to itself, although console revenues will be split.

Payday is very close to my heart, and has laid the foundation for Starbreeze success in recent years,” Starbreeze CEO Bo Andersson Klint said.

We’re very excited to bring our heisters home to the safe house. To start with, we believe in the continued success of Payday 2 and will support it for at least another 18 months continuing expanding the game.”