The release is scheduled for tomorrow, September 21. PAYDAY 3 is a cooperative bank-heist game. Having already become familiar with the game, the team shares its early impression to answer whether players should move from PAYDAY 2 to the third installment or skip the hype altogether.
What’s new?
In the latest beta, a single map was available, shown to players in July. It’s surprisingly manageable even on the hardest setting when playing solo, which caught the testers off guard.
New mini-games have appeared. Any crew member can pick locks now; no specialized skills are required. To speed things up, players must press the action button in time. Windows are opened with a cutter rather than a master key. These tasks can be completed without wearing a mask, allowing longer stealth, though entering through a window remains visible to onlookers.
Hacking can be interrupted if someone notices you
New locations are divided into three sectors:
- Public space — moving around unmasked is allowed, but security will retaliate if illegal activity is detected.
- Private terrain — cameras, guards, and staff react to players. If detected, players are safe-bounced to a nearby area and warned not to repeat the action. In co-op, calm observers can be removed safely this way, though it wastes time.
- Protected area — similar to PAYDAY 2, discovery here triggers immediate aggression and all players must mask up.
Now highlighted enemies aren’t visible across the entire map, which adds realism but doesn’t necessarily help in passing a level. A substitute is micro cameras that can be placed in rooms or on guards to monitor movements.
Skill system
The talent tree has been redesigned into a linear, clear progression where players pick a class that fits their style, with each level unlocking new perks. As in the previous game, players can reset skills for free and experiment with different builds. A maximum of 21 skill points is earned upon reaching level 100.
What does stealth feel like?
Artificial intelligence is noticeably smarter. Running or dropping items now shifts guard patrols. A crucial change is the moment you hear a fallen ally’s radio: you have only a few seconds to react. If time runs out, you wait for other guards to investigate.
There is a sense of consistency: every cell is placed identically, and guards follow the same routes. As difficulty rises, patrols increase in number, but the layout remains the same.
Will PAYDAY 3 surpass its predecessor?
Shooting, assault squads and hostages
Enemies react to every shot, but torso hits rarely end battles quickly. New players may burn through an entire magazine before downing a veteran, while a few precise headshots can end it swiftly. This element from PAYDAY 2 remains, adding realism to precision shooting. A shotgun blast knocks back most foes on impact. Wounds and damaged gear instantly reveal which enemies are already hurt and deserve focus. Elite fighters persist, each with unique abilities, adding challenge for newcomers. Even though these veterans remain, there are no invulnerable foes anymore.
Hostages have become more passive and seem less significant. In PAYDAY 2, alarmed shouts could cause someone to bolt; here a single shout can cow an entire room. Once controlled, hostages can be moved to a corner, and their models appear less voluminous.
When caught off guard, players may need to hand over a hostage to stall the attack. Hostages can also be used as a shield to absorb damage.
Heist tempo and music
The stealth focus appears to have overshadowed the bang-bang approach. If a player charges into a bank, it can take up to 20 minutes to pick every lock. Enemies then attack in waves, followed by the need to prepare the van for extraction.
You can’t dodge bullets in a van; it now functions as an asset to transport money bags. Stealth feels safer, with fewer penalties for mistakes, which reduces the number of restarts.
No one has solved cartridge issues
And about the music
Fans of PAYDAY 2 shouldn’t expect the same impact from the third installment. During stealth runs, the score is intentionally restrained, with adaptive variations as players explore the map.
So is it worth switching to the third installment?
PAYDAY titles demand long sessions to form a solid verdict. Early impressions suggest the third game leans toward a more casual and forgiving playstyle, with fewer consequences for mistakes. Solo play also feels tougher, limiting the ability to neutralize all money bags in a single run, which can affect earnings.
In the end, the third entry may not deliver the same amount of content as PAYDAY 2 right away, meaning players might wait years to judge it against the second game’s breadth.
Had the game launched as a free-to-play title with cosmetic items and a battle pass, it might have stood a stronger chance from the start. Instead, it asks players to invest a sizable amount up front, while many already own the core mechanics and systems in PAYDAY 2.
Would you play PAYDAY 3?
Source: VG Times