Starbreeze is looking to develop new IP using the proceeds from Payday 2, which has turned a profit for the company on the strength of pre-orders alone.

According to an investor note translated from Swedish by Game Reactor, Payday 2 publisher 505 Games has been completely reimbursed for its investment in the title, six days before its official release.

All revenue from the game’s sales will now be split between 505 and Starbreeze.

"Today Starbreeze has once again demonstrated that our strategy of focusing on our own properties is correct," said Starbreeze CEO Bo Andersson-Klint.

"Not only have we managed to deliver a desirable product in Payday 2, but also executed a promotion that few companies of our size can.

"We now look forward to the royalty income that can secure the company's development of its own IP in the future.

“That Payday 2 generates revenue for the company six days before the release is of course very unusual for games of this size and strengthens the long-term nature of our strategy."

Starbreeze acquired Payday: The Heist developer Overkill Software last April, and Battlefield 3 lead designer David Goldfarb moved to the company from DICE shortly thereafter.

Co-op crime title Payday 2 will be available for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 from August 14.