Payday 3 Archives

AppWizard

March 26, 2026

There’s a new Payday game in the works, but it’s not quite what I expected

The Payday franchise includes the original game and its sequel, Payday 2, which became popular on PC. Payday 3 had a disappointing release, leading to the development of a spin-off titled Payday: Aces High. This new game requires a VR headset for gameplay and focuses on cooperative heists, allowing players to use physical movements to aim and shoot. Players can team up with up to three friends, avoid alarms, and escape with loot to earn cash rewards for better equipment and character development. The game will be released on Steam and the Meta Quest storefront in 2026.

AppWizard

March 24, 2026

There’s a new Payday game coming later this year, and it’s VR

Starbreeze is launching a virtual reality game titled Payday: Aces High, part of the Payday franchise, developed by Fast Travel Games. The game features co-op multiplayer for up to four players and allows for solo play. Players assume the roles of elite bank robbers in chaotic heists, maintaining the series' elements of planning and teamwork. Payday: Aces High is set to release in the third quarter of 2026, specifically between July 1 and September 30, and will be available exclusively for Meta Quest and SteamVR headsets. Starbreeze's CEO stated that this game is part of a strategy to expand the Payday franchise through new formats. The studio is currently facing challenges, including issues with Payday 3 and layoffs, while the success of Aces High remains uncertain amid a reevaluation of VR investments in the industry.

AppWizard

December 2, 2025

Payday 3 tears up one of its worst systems and replaces it with a shiny new one, and it’s a huge step in the right direction

Since its launch in 2023, Payday 3 has faced challenges, with daily player counts on Steam for Payday 2 being approximately 20 times higher than for Payday 3. Starbreeze has canceled a Dungeons & Dragons project to focus on enhancing Payday 3 and has transitioned support for Payday 2 to another studio. The upcoming free update, Skills 2.0, will overhaul the skill system by eliminating the previous buffs (Rush, Edge, and Grit) and introducing a more intuitive structure with six main archetypes: Soldier, Ninja, Mechanic, Hacker, Conman, and Professional, each with three subdivisions. Players will have access to 51 skill points upon reaching Infamy level 150 and an online tool will help plan skill progression. Starbreeze has adjusted weapon damage to maintain balance and introduced various enhancements, including the ability to throw bags at enemies to stagger them and resolving a bug with throwing knives.