Starbreeze Reverses 'Payday 2' DLC Price Hike Amidst Player Backlash

Starbreeze, the developer behind the popular game 'Payday 2', has recently addressed player concerns by reverting a contentious price adjustment for the 'Infamous Collection'. This move follows significant community outcry over an unexpected increase in the bundle's cost, which coincided with the introduction of a new subscription service. The company has acknowledged its missteps in communication and timing, aiming to mend relations with its long-standing player base.

Starbreeze Rectifies 'Payday 2' DLC Pricing After Community Uproar

In a recent development, Starbreeze, the company behind the widely-played title 'Payday 2', found itself at the center of a controversy following a significant price increase for its 'Infamous Collection' DLC bundle. The price of the collection surged from $118 to $170 just weeks before the rollout of a new $5-per-month DLC subscription service. This timing led many players to believe that Starbreeze was attempting to push them towards the new subscription model, sparking considerable dissatisfaction within the gaming community.

Gustav Nisser, Starbreeze's Head of Commercial, initially downplayed any connection between the price adjustment and the subscription launch, labeling the timing as \"unfortunate\" and admitting to a failure in keeping fans adequately informed. However, the player base remained unconvinced, leading Starbreeze to reconsider its decision.

In response to the clear feedback from the community, Starbreeze has now reinstated the original discount on the 'Infamous Collection'. Nisser openly conceded that the company \"definitely didn't handle this right\" and expressed apologies to the community, hoping for acceptance that it was an \"honest mistake.\" He clarified that the reduction in the Infamous Collection's discount from 52% to 33% was part of a broader pricing review. The intent was to adjust a discount considered \"a bit too steep\" due to its cumulative effect with other individual DLC promotions. Nevertheless, the lack of prior notification for this change became the primary point of contention for players.

Nisser further emphasized that had the team foreseen the proximity of this price change to the subscription service launch, they would have acted differently. He acknowledged the double failure in both internal coordination and external community communication, which resulted in the perception that players were being coerced into the subscription. Despite these challenges, Nisser reaffirmed that such an intention was not the case, attributing the situation to a genuine \"mishap.\"

This episode underscores the critical importance for Starbreeze to maintain positive engagement with its 'Payday 2' community. Despite being a 12-year-old game, 'Payday 2' continues to attract tens of thousands of daily players on Steam, significantly outperforming its successor, 'Payday 3', which currently records a 24-hour peak concurrent player count of just 518. For Starbreeze, ensuring the smooth operation and continued support for 'Payday 2' is crucial, and that undeniably involves avoiding actions that could alienate its loyal player base.

This incident serves as a crucial reminder for game developers about the delicate balance between business strategies and community trust. The swift reversal by Starbreeze demonstrates a valuable lesson in listening to player feedback and prioritizing community relations, especially for long-running titles with dedicated fan bases. It highlights that transparency and timely communication are paramount in maintaining player loyalty and fostering a positive gaming environment.