Tobias Sjögren has been removed from his role as CEO of developer Starbreeze after the company’s board concluded the studio “needs a different leadership” to execute its current business strategy. The announcement follows a disastrous launch for last year’s Payday 3, which is still struggling to attract players in significant numbers.
Starbreeze’s board announced Sjögren’s removal in a note to investors, adding that board member – and former CEO of Focus Home interactive – Juergen Goeldner would be serving as interim CEO as the recruitment process for a permanent replacement gets underway.
“The company has a clear strategy centred around creating attractive games on our own and licensed IPs,” Starbreeze chairman Torgny Hellström said of today’s management changes. “The board’s consolidated assessment is that the execution of strategy needs a different leadership. Juergen Goeldner has been part of the board since 2023 and, with over 40 years of industry experience, is a strong interim solution”.
