It’s fair to say that Payday 3 hasn’t had the smoothest of launches, but then it was never the easiest of sells. Payday 2 came out in 2013 and amassed a dedicated following, then Payday 3 came along and, on the surface at least, didn’t seem to change an enormous amount about how the game worked but committed the cardinal sin of going live service and then… nothing. Since launch there have been plenty of complaints about its offering but only one minor patch, leaving players wondering what exactly was going on.
(Image credit: Starbreeze)
Technical Challenges and Developer Response
Starbreeze producer Andreas Häll-Penninger addressed what he termed “the elephant in the room” regarding the troubled post-launch phase of Payday 3. He explained that a “critical error in our backend update pipeline” was discovered, which posed a significant risk to player saves and progression. This issue was the primary reason for the delay in updates, as any changes could potentially lead to further complications.
To mitigate these risks and ensure the integrity of future updates, the following steps were taken:
- Identification and diagnosis of the critical backend error
- Implementation of safeguards to protect player data
- Thorough testing of updates before deployment
- Establishing a clear communication channel with the community regarding updates
“We have no reason to want to delay updates for this long. It was frustrating for both us, and you, the players, that the launch went the way it did. We’ve taken the necessary steps to ensure that our updates will not cause more problems than they fix,” Häll-Penninger assured.
Upcoming Updates and Features
The first major free update for Payday 3 is set to bring back some much-anticipated features and introduce new elements to enhance gameplay. Fans will be pleased with the return of Locke as the mission coordinator, alongside two re-worked heists from the beloved Payday 2.
In addition to these nostalgic inclusions, the update will introduce a new skill line focused on moving bags more efficiently. This feature addresses a long-standing player request, as evidenced by a trailer shot that showed a character carrying two bags at once, sparking a desire among players to do the same.
The game’s challenge system is also getting a rework, although specific details on this are yet to be fully disclosed.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Locke as Mission Coordinator | Return of fan-favourite character to guide players through heists |
| Re-worked Heists | Two popular heists from Payday 2 reimagined for the new game |
| New Skill Line | Enhancements for more efficient loot bag movement |
| Challenge System Rework | Improvements to the existing challenge system, details forthcoming |
Additional Content and Community Engagement
Accompanying the returning heists, Payday 3 will also feature new music to set the tone for the high-stakes action. The update humorously presents Starbreeze composer Gustavo Coutinho as he appears to be deeply immersed in the process of creating the game’s dynamic soundtrack.
The addition of new music and the inclusion of familiar elements from Payday 2 are part of Starbreeze’s efforts to re-engage the community and add depth to the Payday 3 experience.
The current state of Payday 3 stands in stark contrast to its predecessor, Payday 2. With just under 700 concurrent players on Steam for the former and 10,000 for the latter, the difference is significant. This gap not only reflects the legacy and established player base of Payday 2 but also underscores the challenges faced by the new installment in winning over fans.
While the initial announcement of Payday 3 was met with enthusiasm due to its similarities to the much-loved Payday 2, post-launch sentiments have soured as players unfavorably compare the two experiences. Considering that Payday 2 has benefited from a decade of post-launch support, the expectations placed on its successor may seem steep. Nonetheless, the transition has been undeniably bumpy and, to date, less successful than hoped.
