Starbreeze/Smilegate Partnership

[$anctuary]

What does this mean for the future of Payday 2? If your are not aware,
Smilegate and Overkill have partnered up.[www.starbreeze.com]
Here is some of the information in the press release:

Smilegate invests 40 MUSD (344 MSEK) in Starbreeze, Starbreeze to develop an all-new co-op version of the CROSSFIRE franchise and Starbreeze titles to be published in Asia.

*The leading Korean game company Smilegate has undertaken to invest a total of 40 MUSD (344 MSEK) in Starbreeze, 15 MUSD (129 MSEK) in equity, combined with 25 MUSD (215 MSEK) in a convertible bond.

*Starbreeze receives a 10 year right to develop, publish and distribute an all-new first person co-op game on Smilegate’s CROSSFIRE franchise for western markets. CROSSFIRE is the world’s largest grossing online first-person-shooter (FPS) game with 500 million users.

*Starbreeze receives distribution rights on the Smilegate platform, and will launch PAYDAY 2 and OVERKILL’s The Walking Dead on Asian markets via the platform.

*A representative from Smilegate will be proposed to Starbreeze’s Board of Directors.

*Starbreeze to call an Extra General Meeting on February 22 2016 to approve the share issues. The share issues are a prerequisite for the transaction.

Smilegate is infamous for its blatant pay2win and Counter-Strike ripoff Crossfire. Will Payday 2 finally go free2play? Smilegate has invested ($40 million according to the press release) in Starbreeze. How will this partnership effect of how the future of Payday franchise will go? At best, this only results in a Crossfire DLC, at worse it could mean Payday could go F2P. I hope this is nothing, but this partnership with one of the worse P2W developers on the planet has me worried.

[Vilmer Slaughter]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=So-kKed7AAM
Just another one of their stellar business moves. GG Bo.

"The Eastern entertainment market has been an enigma for western game developers and vice versa."
- Yeah, right, sure it has. An enigma of microtransactions and p2w hell.
"This in-depth collaboration uniquely positions Starbreeze and Smilegate to bridge the gap between the two markets."
- Starbreeze/Overkill's new favorite word: Collaboration!
”The innovative and financially strong Smilegate with its billion-dollar CROSSFIRE franchise is a perfect partner for us."
- The Microtransaction money machine will fit in perfectly with us!
"We will create a powerhouse of a partnership for the next decade.”
- ....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umDr0mPuyQc

[Pain]

LOL, well that's pretty well...ominous ....

[Max]

Payday goes F2P

[A Flying Brick]

Players seem to be loving it.

[BitsOfSkin]

引用自 Chex LeMeneux：

"This in-depth collaboration uniquely positions Starbreeze and Smilegate to bridge the gap between the two markets."
- Starbreeze/Overkill's new favorite word: Collaboration!

Wasn't the death penalty the punishment for collaboration not all that long ago ?

[Peanits]

If I had to guess, the version for the Asian market will probably be free to play, loaded with microtransactions. XP boosts and all. That kind of thing flies over there and nobody bats an eye at it. Because it's going to be on another platform, probably a better anti-cheat too.

For regular PAYDAY 2, probably nothing. Nothing related, at least. The first round of microtransactions blew up in their face, I really doubt they're dumb enough to try that again.

[BitsOfSkin]

引用自 Peanits：

I really doubt they're dumb enough to try that again.

Isn't that what we thought after the TWD incident, John Wick, Hypetrain, etc. etc. ?

引用自 Bullet Tooth Tony：

You should never underestimate the predictability of stupidity

[Espio]

引用自 Bullet Tooth Tony：

You should never underestimate the predictability of stupidity

[Verso]

God-freaking-dang it, Overkill.

[BitsOfSkin]

引用自 Toy Foxy：

God-freaking-dang it, Overkill.

Well, you know what they say...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNTBb1u6UGg

[Mother_Flowers]

引用自 Peanits：

I really doubt they're dumb enough to try that again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztVMib1T4T4&ab_channel=IQuip4U

[Infinite Thwomp Works]

*Starbreeze receives a 10 year right to develop, publish and distribute an all-new first person co-op game on Smilegate’s CROSSFIRE franchise for western markets. CROSSFIRE is the world’s largest grossing online first-person-shooter (FPS) game with 500 million users.

*Starbreeze receives distribution rights on the Smilegate platform, and will launch PAYDAY 2 and OVERKILL’s The Walking Dead on Asian markets via the platform.

Okay, so this looks benign enough. We'll be getting a Crossfire game over here which will probably suck, but eh, that's life. And in return, Overkill gets to sell Payday 2 in the notoriously strict Asian market.

*A representative from Smilegate will be proposed to Starbreeze’s Board of Directors.

Now THIS is what I'm worried about. You're giving a HUGE amount of power to the new guy. Someone who is probably not too familiar with western audiences, which have much difference tastes than the aforementioned Asian markets. THIS is worrisome.

[Verso]

引用自 Faceplant Murphy：

A deal this big doesnt happen overnight. Something like this had to have been in the works for a while now. The microtransactions now make sense (from a financial/business model standpoint). It also is very clear why Overkill didnt care about running out all the vet players back in October. They knew that they would have 500 million new potential customers with little to no problem being used as a proverbial ATM card. That being said, this doesnt bode well for development prospects for the game or its current players. You think the hacker problem is bad now? Wait until the asians get a hold of this game. Better start grouping up now, because pub games will become a nightmare when this is all said and done. Also, you can probably expect even more DLC now and at a more frequent pace as well. All of which will be trite and pointless. Its the end of days for this game ladies and gentlemen.

To put it in a nutshell - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLySkVKxDG0

[BitsOfSkin]

*insert obligatory joke about how if they sink any lower, they'll come out somewhere in Asia*

[Miles Bluefalls]

Stop following Bo. Go follow Ulf.

Bo's only following the money, and it shows. It doesn't matter how much of a trainwreck things become, as long as the payola's there.