Thanks to a new $ 6 million contract signed behind the scenes (PDF link), Payday 2 is guaranteed new content for the next 20 months.
The contract was signed between Digital Bros, parent company of Payday 2’s publisher, 505 Games, and Starbreeze AB, who is investing the money into Payday. Both Starbreeze and 505 Games note the overwhelming success of Payday 2’s launch, having generated almost $ 40 million in its first two months alone.
Digital Bros has been in gaming since 1989, having made games for consoles under 505 Games, as well as smartphones under 505 Mobile. They also have a trading card/game distribution business in their parent company of Italy under the name Halifax.
Starbreeze AB are themselves a gaming company based in Sweden, who acquired Payday’s developer Overkill Studios just last year. Starbreeze also has an internal game studio called Starbreeze Studio AB, recently responsible for the Syndicate FPS reboot and Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons.
In a statement, Digital Bros CEO Raphael Galante explains they learned about the hidden potential found in the gaming market, and the demands to both developer and publisher to be flexible enough to act to changes in consumer demand, whether that be a drop, or even busier, an increase.
Of course, somewhat missing in this conversation are the developers themselves, Overkill Software, but I’m sure they’re already busy at work for DLC next year. Will this deal be enough to make Payday 2 a reliable cash cow for the next two years? I wouldn’t mind to see that happen; it may make AAA studios take notice and rescope their own annual franchises.
