Vice Studios Secures Payday Film and TV Rights in New Starbreeze Partnership

Vice Studios has acquired the film and television rights to the Payday franchise, potentially bringing characters like Chains, Dallas, Hoxton, and Wolf to screens. The company behind Gangs of London announced today that it is partnering with Starbreeze Entertainment to develop Payday projects for new media, though specific details on adapting the cooperative heist gameplay remain undisclosed, indicating plans are in early stages.

Amy Powell, president of Vice, stated: "PAYDAY's world extends beyond the game itself. There's rich mythology behind the masks and a crew with compelling history to explore. We're thrilled to partner with Starbreeze Entertainment to expand this universe on screen."

The Payday series began explosively with Payday: The Heist in 2011 for PlayStation 3 and PC, featuring four masked robbers executing heists across various scenarios. Its formula evolved in Payday 2 (2013) and Payday 3 (2023). Former Starbreeze CEO Tobias Sjögren, who left in 2024 after Payday 3's troubled launch, told GamesIndustry.biz in 2023 that a Payday movie or show was a "perfect fit," hinting at deeper character exploration.

Sjögren's remarks followed Starbreeze's February 2023 announcement of live-action Payday projects with Los Angeles-based Stockholm Syndrome, but today's Vice partnership suggests those plans may have stalled.

Current CEO Adolf Kristjansson commented: "Our aim is to transform PAYDAY from a game into a comprehensive entertainment platform dominating the heist genre. As Starbreeze's cornerstone franchise, we carefully choose partners to extend its universe. VICE Studios' creative ambition and production capabilities align perfectly with PAYDAY's authenticity."

While Vice and Starbreeze chart Payday's new direction, fans await a fresh entry after Payday 3's disappointing reception. According to SteamDB, Payday 3 has struggled to exceed 1,000 concurrent players in recent years, whereas Payday 2, launched nearly 13 years ago, maintains a 24-hour peak of 23,515 players.

For more on the series, check out reviews of Payday 1, 2, and 3, and updates on Starbreeze's recent layoffs and cancellation of a co-op Dungeons & Dragons game.