Starbreeze will make D&D co-op game code-named Project Baxter

04.12.2023 - 17:39 / venturebeat.com / Tobias Sjögren / Will Make / Co-Op Game / Will

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Starbreeze Entertainment has partnered with Wizards of the Coast‘s Dungeons & Dragons to create a cooperative multiplayer game code-named Project Baxter.

Based in Stockholm, Sweden, Starbreeze is unveiling the project for the first time with a target launch year of 2026 for the game set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe.

Wizards of the Coast, a division of Hasbro, has licensed the D&D brand to Starbreeze, the maker of games such as Payday 3. D&D has seen enormous growth recently, with the Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves movie (which had $208 million in global box office revenue) this year and the Baldur’s Gate 3 game from Larian.

The upcoming title aims to immerse players in the captivating world of Dungeons & Dragons while embodying the quintessential Starbreeze gaming elements.

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It will focus on cooperative multiplayer, community engagement, and a games as a service model, promising a larger-than-life experience for players across all major gaming platforms. Notably, Project Baxter will feature cross-play functionality and is set to harness the power of Unreal Engine 5.

Tobias Sjögren, CEO of Starbreeze, said in a statement, “It is hard to imagine a better pairing than Dungeons & Dragons and Starbreeze – both with their foundation in cooperative and community driven experiences, ‘play it your way’ and infinite replayability. When looking at prospective IPs, D&D was always at the top of our list and I’m incredibly happy to announce this license agreement and I want to thank Wizards of the Coast for being a great partner. Development of the game is in full swing, to deliver a world-class triple-A experience in 2026.”

Starbreeze’s general strategy is to make co-op games as a service, and Sjögren said the company is very excited to be partners with Wizards of the Coast.

Eugene Evans, senior vice president of digital strategy and licensing at Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro, said in a statement, “Dungeons and Dragons is having an extraordinary year. Our gaming brands, including D&D, continue to attract great partners as we execute our plan to grow our digital games
portfolio through licensing and development. Our collaboration with Starbreeze is a prime illustration of this strategy. Given their impressive games and passion for D&D, we are confident that they will create an experience that will delight fans worldwide.”

As the development of Project Baxter unfolds, Starbreeze encourages