Things continue to go from bad to worst for the failed multiplayer first-person shooter, with Starbreeze lowering its investments into its post-launch plans.
It features the base game alongside its first year of content, including all DLC packs, cosmetics, weapons, and free updates in one bundle.
The latest heist sees the gang infiltrating an NYPD holding facility to retrieve Vlad's gold. It includes new suits, masks, and weapons.
Offline mode will still come later this year, but the Solo Mode Beta will allow players to bypass matchmaking when it launches.
Former Focus Home Interactive CEO Juergen Goeldner will act as interim CEO until the Board finds a permanent replacement.
The quality-of-life patch offers 300 bug fixes and improvements, alongside a unique weapon charm for Cook Off on Overkill difficulty.
Starbreeze Studios has revealed its plans for upcoming updates and improvements coming to the co-op shooter throughout this year.
"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," says Starbreeze CEO Tobias Sjögren.
Starbreeze wants to "shape the game into the heisting experience you expect from a Payday sequel in both the short and long term."
The gang ventures to Scry Digital and goes up against a dangerous AI. A new Weapon Pack and Tailor Pack is also available.
Similar to Payday 2, if you don't own the DLC and join the lobby of someone who does, you can play the new heist for free.
Crashes are fixed, and Xbox Series S performance is improved, but you can no longer earn XP fast in the 99 boxes heist.
Turbid Station and Cook Off from Payday 2 have been reimagined. There's also a new Skill Line, preset weapon, mask, and more.
Transporter Skills allow for carrying two bags, negating movement penalties when lifting objects or bodies, throwing bags farther and more.
Cook Off and Turbid Station are receiving some changes to add depth and align them with the sequel's gameplay mechanics.
However, the developer says it's confident that sales will pick up again as the game gets more updates as part of its live service plans.
The company says this is "due to a softer launch where an unforeseen error relating to external matchmaking software impacted the experience for gamers."
Cook Off and Murky Station from Payday 2 are coming to the sequel. There will also be a new Skill Line and over 200 bug fixes.
Last Man Standing and Armor Up will also receive some changes in the next patch, but "big nerfs" aren't planned for other Skills.
Free content updates will also arrive before the year ends, though Starbreeze will reveal more after sorting its patching process.
The patch has been sent for testing and certification to ensure platform parity, but there's still no ETA after multiple delays.
"We have identified some issues that need to be fixed," says Starbreeze, who will provide an ETA on the patch when it's sure of delivery.
The delay is to "ensure its stability" with "some changes that would require us to go through console certification again", per Starbreeze.
Starbreeze also outlined its roadmap, with the first patch live in early October with over 200 quality-of-life improvements.
Starbreeze can't give a "clear yes or no answer" on an offline mode but is evaluating "every possibility going forward."
Despite matchmaking errors over the period, Starbreeze's co-op heist shooter had nearly 1.4 million unique daily active players.
COCOON, The Lamplighters League, and Party Animals are also set to join the service's catalog in the coming days.
The co-op, heist-focused shooter is available on September 21st for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC, while also launching on Game Pass.
The first paid DLC, Syntax Error, launches in Winter 2023. Additional content will include new weapons, characters, and more.
The beta will include four playable characters in Dallas, Hoxton, Chains, and Wolf, in addition to a bank heist.
Lead producer Andreas Häll Penninger also said the team would free and paid content, including characters, weapons, heists and outfits.
The latest Payday 3 trailer also shows off quite a bit of gameplay of how you can expect a typical heist in the co-op game can go.
"Follow the Money" sees the gang doing what they do best - robbing a bank - before the game's release on September 21st.
Players can now choose the upgrades they want after unlocking a Base Skill or take Mastery Nodes to benefit other builds.
Hacking is more focused on "systemic, non-objective" mechanics, but Starbreeze has plans to expand on it with more content later.
Players will no longer be cuffed immediately when trespassing, and Starbreeze is adding more to the unmasked experience.
"We're always asking ourselves, what unique gameplay element does this heist have, and how do we make it look and feel unique?"
The Payday 3 closed beta will feature the four mascot characters for the game, and one mission—the No Rest For The Wicked bank heist.
Levels have extensive details, as players can knock over fruit bowls, cause printers to spew out paper and more in chaotic fights.
The minimum and recommended requirements for the upcoming co-op heist shooter's PC version have been revealed.
"You must have a connection to play because it's in Unreal Engine. It uses cross-progression and cross-play," says Starbreeze's Almir Listo.
Instead of going in guns-blazing, sneak past security, crouch through vents and destroy security cameras to procure valuables.
Earning experience with weapons unlocks more mods, while Overkill weapons are usable after completing enough heist objectives.
The Bulldozer and Cloaker have received some buffs, while new enemies like the Nader and Zapper can mess with your movement.
They all have the same enemy types, but their numbers, accuracy and damage will be adjusted, per Starbreeze's Miodrag Kovacevic.
"We want to emulate the feeling you get watching a heist movie or a TV show," says brand director Almir Listo.
Players must also sign up for Starbreeze Nebula for cross-progression since it maintains a "single community across all platforms."
Starbreeze Studios has released its first developer diary for its upcoming co-op first person shooter to reveal new details on what players can expect.
Reuniting after the events of Payday 2, the gang is back at it again to rob banks, battle cops, and make off with tons of cash.
According to a new leak, Starbreeze's long-awaited co-op heist shooter will launch in September for PC and consoles.
The Embracer Group also confirmed that it has several "unannounced notable titles" to be revealed this fiscal year in its latest report.
Developer Starbreeze says planning for the game's long-term post-launch support is also underway in the lead-up to its release this year.
Starbreeze and Prime Matter have confirmed when they will finally be unveiling gameplay for the co-op heist shooter.
The long-awaited shooter releases this year for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. Details on the release date and other features are coming later.
Starbreeze Studios and Prime Matter's upcoming co-op FPS can now also be wishlisted on Steam.
CEO Tobias Sjögren says the team can't say more at this point about the heist simulator but promises that it's "going to be a lot of fun."
Dallas, Hoxton, Chains, and Wolf will be returning to the spotlight, while the story will involve software giants, cryptocurrencies, mass surveillance, and more.
The publisher has also invested €50 million towards the game's development and marketing.
The company has taken "key steps in putting Starbreeze back on the map as an industry leader."
Release date is still "TBA."
Starbeeze also manages to cut overall losses.
Don't expect to see the shooter any time soon.
As well as to market Overkill's The Walking Dead.
Will be done "when it's done".
Heisting lives on.
David Goldfarb speaks to the future of Payday.
