This year's Syndicate reboot may be one of the last AAA titles to come from Starbreeze Studios for some time, as the Swedish developer has announced plans to focus its efforts on a new, free-to-play project called Cold Mercury.

Gamesindustry.Biz reports the studio, whose past projects include 2007's The Darkness and the Chronicles of Riddick series, is currently seeking publisher support for its yet-to-be-announced project. However, studio CEO Mikael Nermark stated the shift to freemium development is not necessarily a permanent strategy, explaining, "Starbreeze will not leave the AAA segment ... We are discussing with several leading game publisher on publisher financed games, but we will broaden our product portfolio of games in the new business models and segments that have arisen in the games industry. I am convinced that Starbreeze will be successful with the new games."

Currently, Starbreeze is also seeking distribution for a game codenamed P13, which it has been developing in collaboration with Swedish director Josef Fares. Little is known of it or Cold Mercury.

The news of Starbreeze's free-to-play intentions comes one month after the studio shed its workforce by 25 staff following the completion of its Syndicate reboot for EA. For what it's worth, Syndicate scored decently in our own Syndicate review, and has apparently fared well with other critics, landing a 73 average on Metacritic. We look forward to hearing more about Cold Mercury, and seeing how Starbreeze plans to make its mark in F2P market.