Starbreeze Studios has appointed EA veteran Jonas Skantz as general manager of the Payday franchise.
Announced earlier today, Skantz joins the team with the task of “steering the franchise’s creative and commercial direction.” The general manager has had an extensive tenure at EA with credits on over 40 titles, primarily as director of engineering and studio director in the Stockholm branch.
Alongside the launches of games like Anthem, Battlefield V, and 2017’s Star Wars: Battlefront II, Skantz had a substantial role around the Frostbite engine, including the migration that transitioned Fifa (renamed to EA Sports FC since 2023) onto the engine, as well as tool development for Battlefield entries.
“Over my first week, I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with people across the company about the IP’s history, present, and future,” Skantz said in the announcement. “The passion and dedication I’ve seen here are truly inspiring, and I’m here to work with the team to evolve Payday in ways that surprise, delight, and reward our community.”
Leadership changes continue at Starbreeze amidst Payday’s ongoing underperformance
Skantz is the second managerial addition to the Starbreeze team so far this year. Back in March, fellow EA veteran Adolf Kristjansson was appointed as the new CEO with the goal of turning the company into a “true multi-title studio” moving forward. This took place around a year after the studio ousted then-CEO Tobias Sjögren after Payday 3’s launch performed well under expectations.
In February 2024, five months after the release of Payday 3, Starbreeze explained the co-op shooter was performing at “significantly lower levels” than it would have liked, and the process of rehabilitating the game was its “biggest focus and absolute priority.”
As noted in Starbreeze’s fiscal report for the full-year ended December 2024, the company delivered annual net sales of SEK 185.9 million (around $17.3 million), compared to SEK 633.5 million ($58.1 million) recorded in FY2023.
“With a balanced risk profile, strong cash position and several ongoing projects approaching important milestones, we look forward to 2025,” acting CEO Mats Juhl said at the time. “Our vision to be a leading multi-title studio is more realistic than ever, and we are well positioned to continue building value for our players and owners.”
Elsewhere, Starbreeze agreed to fully acquire the publishing rights for Payday from Plaion back in May in order to “pursue broader strategic opportunities” for the franchise.
