Starbreeze acquiring Payday dev Overkill

Syndicate and Chronicles of Riddick developer Starbreeze is picking up fellow Swedish studio Overkill Software, maker of recent co-op crime FPS Payday: The Heist. Gosh, imagine the co-op larks that could be had if they put their game-brains together.

Starbreeze is buying all the shares of Overkill from parent company SLG Everscreen, paid for with new shares in Starbreeze itself, pending board approval. There'll also be stock incentives for certain Eversceen members.

Starbreeze CEO Mikael Nermark explained in the announcement (roughly translated by Google) that picking up Overkill will let Starbreeze compliment its big fancy AAA side with smaller downloadable games it owns.

"Starbreeze and Overkill are two unique FPS studios," Overkill creative director Ulf Andersson added. "Starbreeze has graphical emphasis, and OVERKILL have total focus on innovative gameplay. Together we form a unique constellation of creative forces. With two strong technology platforms and extensive experience in major productions, we become an unbeatable team."

The announcement also mentions that Payday has sold over 400,000 copies, and Overkill is working on both more content and another game. The rights are owned by Overkill, and soon Starbreeze.