- Payday 3 is set to release in two weeks, with developer Starbreeze Studios announcing a year-long roadmap for the game titled ‘The Bad Apple’.
- Four major DLCs are scheduled for the first year: Syntax Error, Boys in Blue, The Land of the Free, and Fear and Greed.
- An open beta for Payday 3, offering a taste of the game, begins today and runs through the weekend.
Just two weeks remain until the highly anticipated debut of Payday 3, and developer Starbreeze Studios has already revealed a detailed plan for the first year of the game, along with a ton of downloadable content and updates that should keep gamers interested.
Starbreeze named the game’s inaugural season “The Bad Apple,” taking cues from New York City. There are four significant DLCs planned for release, as shown on the roadmap:
- Syntax Error: Scheduled for release in winter this year. While specific details remain under wraps, the title suggests missions centered around hacking and digital heists.
- Boys in Blue: Scheduled for release in spring 2024. This DLC might revolve around deadly altercations with the police, given the title’s reference.
- The Land of the Free: Scheduled for release in summer 2024. The name hints at missions that might explore themes of liberty and perhaps political undertones.
- Fear and Greed: Scheduled for release in fall 2024. This DLC’s title evokes a sense of high-stakes heists, possibly involving large corporations or influential figures.
In addition to the significant DLCs, Starbreeze intends to provide a number of updates. Seasonal events, new characters that can be played, cosmetics, skill lines, features, adversaries, and weaponry are all anticipated by players. The switch to Unreal Engine 5 after launch is one of the biggest updates, since it will provide the next game better performance and graphics.
Payday 3 will have an open beta starting today that will last through the weekend and into Monday for those who are itching to experience a taste of the action before the game’s official release. Players can play as one of four characters—Dallas, Hoxton, Chains, and Wolf—and test out the heist “No Rest For The Wicked” in this beta.
The release of a roadmap chock-full of DLCs is a financial death knell for players. A year-long roadmap encourages openness and provides long-term support, but astute gamers can’t help but see it as Starbreeze Studios’ attempt to take more money out of their pockets.
The news that Payday 3 will cost $40 sparked cautious excitement, especially in a time when the majority of games sell for between $60 and $70.
While the exact DLC prices are still unknown, the $90 price of the Payday 3 Gold Edition, which includes a 12-month Season Pass, is a strong indication that the individual DLCs would cost more when purchased as a whole. Players are understandably left wondering if these DLCs are really worth the money or if the original game should have included them from the beginning.
Before its September 21 release, Payday 3 is now available for pre-order on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam.