Connect with us

Technology

Starbreeze AB (publ) Year-end report 2023

Published

1 year ago

on

STOCKHOLM, Feb. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — “Starbreeze stands strong, with a strong cash position and a balance sheet largely free of debt. Our biggest focus now, and going forward, is PAYDAY 3.”

Fourth quarter 2023

Net sales amounted to SEK 69.2 million (33.6).  PAYDAY 2 accounted for SEK 18.3 million (32.4).PAYDAY 3 accounted for SEK 36.2 million (0).EBITDA* amounted to SEK -20.6 million (19.4).Cashflow from operating activities amounted to 62.7 MSEK (10.1).Depreciation, amortization and impairment amounted to SEK 74.4 million (15.0).Profit/loss before taxes amounted to SEK -91.5 million (-12.3).Basic and diluted earnings per share amounted to
            SEK -0.06 (-0.02).

Full-year 2023

Net sales amounted to SEK 633.5 million (127.6),          PAYDAY 2 accounted for SEK 139.1 million (121.9),PAYDAY 3 accounted for SEK 477.0 million (0).EBITDA* amounted to SEK 439.3 million (66.4).Cashflow from operating activities amounted to 114.6 MSEK (57.8).Depreciation, amortization, and impairment amounted to SEK 249.0 million (59.6).Profit/loss before taxes amounted to SEK 207.7 million (-54.4).Basic and diluted earnings per share amounted to SEK 0.19 (-0.08).Cash and cash equivalents amounted to SEK 347.8 million (108.2).In line with the company’s dividend policy, the Board of Directors proposes that no dividend is paid for the 2023 financial year.

Significant events during and after the quarter

October 26, launch of Turtle vs Turtle, a Fortnite island.November 3, Starbreeze announced that it will publish GodsTV.November 7, Roboquest 1.0 was launched on Steam®, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Game Pass and Epic Games Store.November 10, Chairman of the Board of Directors Torgny Hellström announced that he will not be available for re-election at the 2024 Annual General Meeting.November 30, two free heists were released for PAYDAY 3.December 4, Starbreeze announced that it had licensed the world’s greatest role-playing game – Dungeons & Dragons® for Project Baxter.December 12, launch of first DLC for PAYDAY 3, Syntax Error.January 9, Starbreeze announced changes in Group management.January 10, the Starbreeze Nomination Committee announced the proposal to appoint Jürgen Goeldner as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors at the 2024 Annual General Meeting.January 17, Starbreeze announced the Early Access launch of The Tribe Must Survive on Steam on February 22, 2024.

CEO’s message

Long-term focus on PAYDAY™ 3

PAYDAY 3’s sales and player activity are currently at significantly lower levels than we would like. Our biggest focus and absolute priority, both during and after the quarter, are the efforts needed to ensure that the game lives up to expectations. We are working closely with our co-publishing partner Plaion to identify the changes that we will implement, in both the short- and long-term, that add the most value to the gaming experience. The PAYDAY team will in February announce the changes and improvements that are prioritized for implementation.

There are many examples from the game industry, where a problematic initial time on the market is turned into long-term success. There is no simple recipe available, but a common thread from the positive examples is to take players’ criticism to heart, dare to support your game and keeping an open and honest dialogue with your stakeholders. That is exactly what we are now doing with PAYDAY 3. Few companies are blessed with a brand as strong as PAYDAY. At a time when our most recent game is lagging, PAYDAY 2 has fared slightly better than expected financially and with more than 400,000 active players in single months during the quarter. It shows the strength of the brand, and our potential to convert these to PAYDAY 3 as we deliver on our commitments.

Our long-term strategy is set; to build a strong and diversified Starbreeze. We will do this by developing games on our own IPs, on licensed IPs and as publisher for other studios’ games. In December, we were able to reveal that our next major internal project, Baxter, will be based on Dungeons & Dragons® – the world’s premiere role-playing game. Within our third-party publishing, Roboquest 1.0 was successfully launched with positive impact on both net sales and earnings. We now have more than six million registered users in our portal, Starbreeze Nebula.

RESULTS & FINANCIAL POSITION

Net sales during the quarter amounted to SEK 69.2 million, primarily driven by PAYDAY 3 and revenues linked to the launch of Roboquest 1.0. The results are partly weighed down by depreciation of the PAYDAY 3 asset in accordance with plan, and by significantly higher costs for external services related to game servers during the first part of the quarter. At the end of the quarter, these services were at a significantly better cost level, but we still see opportunities for further efficiencies. During the quarter we invested approximately SEK 41 million in our own game and technology development, mainly PAYDAY 3 and Project Baxter. At the end of the quarter, cash and short-term receivables totaled over SEK 500 million.

PAYDAY 3

In November, we launched a free DLC with two popular heists from PAYDAY 2 along with improvements and new functionality. Early December, the first premium DLC was launched, “Syntax Error”, with a new heist, new enemies and new content among other things. The entire development team will now pivot to deliver on the initiatives to improve the game.

PROJECT ‘BAXTER’

In early December, we were finally able to reveal that we licensed Dungeons & Dragons® for use in our next game title. It is a brand that was always on the top of our lists of potential licenses to develop an action-adventure-game on. The Baxter team is currently in full pre-production and on track to launch in 2026.

THIRD PARTY PUBLISHING

Our business as a publisher of other studios’ games continues to grow in a controlled manner, in line with our strategy. We will continue to leverage the experience, skills and capabilities we have at Starbreeze to help others bring their games to market. The portfolio currently consists of four projects, with Roboquest launched during the quarter to very warm reception from both players and industry media.

ORGANIZATION

During the quarter, the number of employees increased by nine, primarily new recruitment of specific skills for the development of Project Baxter. At the end of the year, the number of employees amounted to 196 people.

CLOSING WORDS

As a company, Starbreeze stands strong, with a strong cash position and a balance sheet largely free of debt. Our biggest focus now, and going forward, is PAYDAY 3. We know what needs to be done for the game to be a success over time, and we have the financial muscles, the community and brand in PAYDAY and the skills required to execute our plan. We continue to work towards our long-term strategy to have two Games as a Service games on the market by 2026 – PAYDAY 3 and Project Baxter – and a portfolio of projects within our third-party publishing. 

TOBIAS SJÖGREN, VD

Webcast

Time: 10.00 CET
Participation: To connect to the webcast- click here.

For more information, please contact:

Tobias Sjögren, CEO
Mats Juhl, CFO
Tel: +46 0(8) – 209 229
Email: ir@starbreeze.com 

This information is information that Starbreeze AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, via the contact persons set out above, at 6:45 am CET on February 15, 2024.

About Starbreeze

Starbreeze is an independent developer, publisher, and distributor of PC and consoles targeting the global market, with studios in Stockholm, Barcelona, Paris and London. Housing the smash hit IP PAYDAYTM, Starbreeze develops games based on proprietary and third-party rights, both in- house and in partnership with external game developers. Starbreeze shares are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm under the tickers STAR A and STAR B.

Read more at www.starbreeze.com and corporate.starbreeze.com.

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/14632/3928979/2606306.pdf

Starbreeze Interim report Q4 2023

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/starbreeze-ab-publ-year-end-report-2023-302062645.html

SOURCE Starbreeze AB

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

ClearBridge Expands VMware Practice Through Enhanced Broadcom Partnership and Addition of Expert VMware Talent

Published

4 hours ago

on

April 5, 2025

By

ClearBridge is proud to announce the expansion of its VMware by Broadcom practice through an enhanced partnership with Broadcom and the addition of more than 50 full-time VMware consultants, architects, project and practice managers, bringing the practice to over 100 resources. This growth further solidifies ClearBridge’s position as the #1 VMware by Broadcom delivery partner.

BILLERICA, Mass., April 5, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — ClearBridge is proud to announce the expansion of its VMware by Broadcom practice through an enhanced partnership with Broadcom and the addition of more than 50 full-time VMware consultants, architects, project and practice managers, bringing the practice to over 100 resources. This growth further solidifies ClearBridge’s position as the #1 VMware by Broadcom delivery partner.

“As a trusted Broadcom partner, we remain focused on delivering exceptional VMware services that drive lasting value for our clients. Bringing in top-tier VMware talent further strengthens our ability to provide scalable IT solutions and accelerate VCF adoption across our customer base.”

The expanded team significantly boosts ClearBridge’s capacity to deliver industry-leading virtualization and cloud solutions, while reinforcing its long-standing commitment to technical excellence and customer success. These seasoned professionals bring deep expertise and a proven track record of supporting complex enterprise VMware environments.

“As a trusted Broadcom partner, we remain focused on delivering exceptional VMware services that drive lasting value for our clients,” said Tim Powell, CEO & Co-Founder of ClearBridge. “Bringing in top-tier VMware talent further strengthens our ability to provide scalable IT solutions and accelerate VCF adoption across our customer base.”

With this strategic growth, ClearBridge is uniquely positioned to support organizations leveraging VMware by Broadcom technologies—offering unmatched expertise and end-to-end support to help businesses navigate today’s dynamic IT landscape.

ClearBridge Technology Group is a national provider of technology consulting and staffing services. We help customers meet challenges with a comprehensive set of technology service offerings that include professional services support, custom project teams, program and project management, and business analysis and strategy. For more information, visit www.ClearBridgetech.com.

For more information about ClearBridge, please contact:

Dianne Shvanda – dshvanda@clearbridgetech.com

For more information about ClearBridge’s VMware practice, please contact:

Jesse Doherty – jdoherty@clearbridgetech.com

Media Contact

dianne shvanda, ClearBridge, 1 6033181330, dshvanda@clearbridgetech.com, ClearBridge

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/clearbridge-expands-vmware-practice-through-enhanced-broadcom-partnership-and-addition-of-expert-vmware-talent-302420976.html

SOURCE ClearBridge

Continue Reading

Technology

New Louis Hernandez Jr. Book “Digital Tsunami” Sets the Stage for a New Era in Tech Innovation

Published

4 hours ago

on

April 5, 2025

By

“Digital Tsunami” explores the profound impact of digital innovation on industries worldwide, from finance to healthcare, and offers a roadmap for navigating the technological revolution

BOCA RATON, Fla., April 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Tech visionary Louis Hernandez, Jr. today launched Digital Tsunami, a compelling new book which delves into the transformative impact of the digital era on industries across the globe and provides actionable strategies for businesses navigating this rapidly evolving landscape.

Louis Hernandez Jr. is the founder and CEO of multi-phased investment firm Black Dragon Capital℠, where he plays a key role in shaping the firm’s investments and direction, particularly in the sports and media technology, financial technology, and digital commerce space. He is an award-winning entrepreneur, successful operating executive and investor, philanthropist, and author. Hernandez has over 30 years of leading multiple companies that have transformed the media, finance, and commerce industries including Grass Valley, Avid, and Open Solutions. Having been inducted into the Innovator Leadership Hall of Fame by Banking Technology News, he is also a sought-after speaker and advisor who has advised or been on the board of some of the most recognized companies in the world such as HSBC, Infosys, and Edison.

Hernandez’s deep understanding of the technology and financial services sectors is fully leveraged in Digital Tsunami, where he provides a unique perspective in analyzing the effects of digital transformation on our lives, to predict where we are heading, and to offer crucial advice on how to successfully navigate the changes ahead.

Digital Tsunami reflects Hernandez’s firsthand experience and vision for how technology will continue to drive the future of industries around the globe. It first addresses the rapid digital transformation happening at an unprecedented pace and disrupting industries worldwide through technologies like AI and blockchain, then offers timely insights into how technology is fundamentally reshaping business models. 

Digital Tsunami is not just a book about technology—it is Hernandez’s call to action for business leaders to embrace the digital revolution and adapt to a world where technology drives every facet of business and society. Readers can discover actionable strategies that will help executives navigate technological disruption and future-proof their organization, making it especially relevant in today’s fast-moving, tech-driven world.

Told through Hernandez’s unique perspective as both an investor and respected thought leader in the global technology space, Digital Tsunami is a must-read for anyone in business or finance.

About Black Dragon Capital℠

Black Dragon Capital℠ (BDC), founded over a decade ago by recognized technology leaders, is a unique multi-phased investment firm focused on disruptive technologies in high growth industry segments that strengthen economic stability within communities. The firm was founded and led by a collaborative team of experienced entrepreneurs with intense operating experience, and a proven track record. They work closely with entrepreneurs to build market leading companies using their proprietary Black Dragon Toolkit℠, which is designed to drive operational value and returns.

Learn more at www.blackdragoncap.com 

About Louis Hernandez Jr.
Louis Hernandez Jr. is the founder, chairman, CEO, and major investor of Black Dragon Capital. He is an award-winning entrepreneur, successful operating executive, investor, philanthropist, and author. His focus and passion are to advance technology initiatives, enabling active collaboration and connection between individuals, teams, and businesses.  He searches for disruptive technology that strengthens economic stability within communities with a strong emphasis on impact investing and outstanding returns.

He is a sought-after leader, and advisor to global organizations around the world. Hernandez is also a prolific author with several published works. His bibliography includes Too Small to Fail (2010), Saving the American Dream (2013), The Storyteller’s Dilemma (2017), and his latest book, Digital Tsunami (2025).

Media Contact
Aren Wong
Social Media Manager
Black Dragon Capital ℠
Awong@blackdragoncap.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-louis-hernandez-jr-book-digital-tsunami-sets-the-stage-for-a-new-era-in-tech-innovation-302421410.html

SOURCE Black Dragon Capital

Continue Reading

Technology

Meet Sara: The AI Employee Who Never Sleeps — CONVO GPT Launches 24/7 Sales & Recruiting Powerhouse Transforming How Businesses Grow

Published

7 hours ago

on

April 5, 2025

By

GREENVILLE, S.C., April 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In a breakthrough development for businesses seeking automation solutions, CONVO GPT launches its groundbreaking AI platform featuring “Sara,” an advanced artificial intelligence sales and recruiting Employee that works around the clock, revolutionizing how companies generate leads, close deals, and attract top talent.  This is much greater than a Chatbot, this revolutionizes the Ai Automated Employee Landscape.  Sara can do the work of over 100 Employees at the same time with out taking a break.

AI Sales Automation and AI Recruiting Solution Eliminates Human Limitations

CONVO GPT, the innovative AI automation platform owned by JDC USA and spearheaded by visionary CEO Jeremy David, has developed an intelligent business solution that outperforms traditional sales and recruiting methods by leveraging conversational artificial intelligence technology that never requires breaks, never misses follow-ups, and operates with machine-like efficiency while maintaining human-quality interactions.

“We’ve created an AI business solution that transforms how companies’ approach both revenue generation and talent acquisition,” explains Jeremy David, Founder & CEO of CONVO GPT. “Sara isn’t just another chatbot or automation tool – she’s a complete AI sales machine and AI recruiting powerhouse of an Employee that takes businesses from cold prospects to sold deals while simultaneously sourcing, screening, and engaging qualified candidates 24/7/365. Whether you’re in staffing, SaaS, financial services, healthcare, or any competitive industry, Sara eliminates the productivity limitations that plague human sales teams and recruiters.”

Full Conversational AI Platform Handles Both Outbound and Inbound Communication

CONVO GPT’s proprietary AI technology represents a complete conversational solution that handles both outbound prospecting and inbound customer interactions. This dual-capability platform combines advanced natural language processing, machine learning, and intelligent automation to create seamless, personalized interactions at scale across multiple channels:

Key Differentiator: Full Conversational AI

Complete outbound automation for proactive lead generation and candidate sourcing

Sophisticated inbound response management for website inquiries, form submissions, and direct messages

Seamless conversation handoffs between AI and human team members when needed

Unified analytics across both inbound and outbound communication flows

Sara: The Ultimate AI Sales Assistant

Automated lead generation and prospect qualification that never sleeps

AI-powered sales outreach across email, SMS, LinkedIn, and social DMs

Conversational sales intelligence that personalizes every interaction

AI appointment setting that converts prospects into scheduled meetings

Sales automation software that integrates with existing CRM systems

Sara: The 24/7 AI Recruiting Solution

Automated candidate sourcing across job boards and professional networks

AI resume screening that identifies qualified applicants instantly

Recruitment automation for staffing agencies and internal HR teams

Intelligent candidate engagement that maintains consistent communication

Recruiting analytics that track every touchpoint and conversion metric

Industry-Specific AI Solutions for Business Growth

CONVO GPT’s artificial intelligence platform delivers specialized automation tools for numerous industries seeking productivity enhancements, including:

Healthcare staffing automation for nurses, CNAs, and medical professionals

IT recruitment solutions for developers, engineers, and tech talent

B2B sales automation for SDR/BDR teams and outbound sales organizations

Financial services lead generation for banking, insurance, and lending

Real estate automation for agents, teams, and property management

Home services lead generation for solar, HVAC, and contractors

SaaS sales automation for technology companies and startups

Business Benefits That Drive ROI

Companies implementing CONVO GPT’s AI business solutions report significant advantages:

Reduced operational costs by replacing or augmenting expensive human resources

Accelerated sales cycles with continuous AI-powered engagement

Improved conversion rates through AI-optimized messaging sequences

Enhanced candidate experience with prompt, consistent communication

Scalable growth without proportional increases in headcount

Data-driven insights from comprehensive analytics and performance tracking

Enterprise-Grade Integration Capabilities

Sara functions as a true AI employee with seamless connectivity to your existing business systems:

Complete form handling – collects and sends forms just like a human team member

Webhook integration through Zapier and Make.com for automated workflows

API connectivity enabling integration with virtually any existing business system

Bidirectional data flow between Sara and your CRM, ATS, marketing platforms, and more

No-code setup that allows for rapid deployment without IT dependencies

Custom workflow automation that mimics your unique business processes

The platform operates on a straightforward subscription model with:

No commission structures

No revenue sharing

No long-term contractual commitments

Leadership in Artificial Intelligence Automation

CONVO GPT operates under the umbrella of JDC USA, focusing on innovative business process optimization through artificial intelligence. Jeremy David’s vision positions the company at the forefront of the AI automation revolution, helping businesses leverage intelligent systems to achieve unprecedented growth and efficiency.

Game-Changing Conversational AI: The Future of Business Communication

What truly sets CONVO GPT apart is its revolutionary conversational AI engine that transforms how businesses communicate with prospects, customers, and candidates. Unlike basic chatbots or limited AI assistants, Sara’s advanced conversational capabilities represent a fundamental paradigm shift:

Human-like interactions that pass the Turing test in both complexity and nuance

Context-aware conversations that maintain continuity across days or weeks of engagement

Emotional intelligence that adapts tone and approach based on recipient signals

Industry-specific knowledge that delivers relevant, specialized responses without generic templates

Multi-channel memory that creates cohesive conversation experiences across email, SMS, social, and more

“Our conversational AI technology isn’t just an incremental improvement – it’s a complete game-changer for how businesses develop relationships at scale,” emphasizes Jeremy David. “The difference is immediately apparent in both conversion rates and customer satisfaction metrics.”

Contact Information:

Jeremy David
Founder & CEO, CONVO GPT
Greenville, SC
www.convogpt.ai 
+1 (864) 203-6204
support@convogpt.ai 

About CONVO GPT

CONVO GPT, a division of JDC USA, delivers next-generation AI automation solutions that transform how businesses approach sales, marketing, and recruitment. By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing, CONVO GPT helps companies of all sizes eliminate manual processes, reduce overhead costs, and achieve sustainable growth through intelligent automation.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/meet-sara-the-ai-employee-who-never-sleeps–convo-gpt-launches-247-sales–recruiting-powerhouse-transforming-how-businesses-grow-302421308.html

SOURCE CONVO GPT

Continue Reading

Trending