The renowned co-op bank heist series, Payday, is supposed to make a big comeback with the release of its latest entry, Payday 3. Unfortunately, its launch has seen nothing but negative comments, mostly aimed at its always-online feature.
Unlike previous installments, Payday 3 requires a perpetual connection to the internet – an element that has caused lots of frustration among players.
While this feature was confirmed beforehand, it doesn’t make its existence and subsequent issues resulting from as it enters its first week of launch any less worse.
We are so sorry that the infrastructure didn’t hold up as expected, and although it’s impossible to prepare for every scenario – we should be able to do better. We work tirelessly until we have restored all services and our players can get back to heisting again without issues!
— Tobias Sjögren (@tobiassjogren) September 22, 2023
Right out of the gates, a myriad of technical issues, such as crashes, slow matchmaking, and unstable servers, plagued Payday 3. The intensity of these challenges prompted an immediate response from Starbreeze Studios’ CEO, Tobias Sjögren, who took to X to apologize for the game’s unstable infrastructure. Expressing regret and committing to ensuring seamless gameplay, he indicated the team’s dedication to rectifying the issues.
The launch issues were further compounded for PlayStation 5 users, who were inadvertently provided with an outdated build of the game. Lead producer Andreas Häll-Penninger pointed to Sony as the reason behind this error, stating that the company inadvertently released the wrong patch. Although the correct version was made available the following day, it was yet another hiccup in a series of unfortunate events during the game’s launch.
For a game that rewards well-planned and well-executed heists, Payday 3’s release has gone anything but smoothly. Of course, as previously mentioned, the always-online requirement of Payday 3 is the most contentious. This feature isn’t uncommon in gaming but it’s historically reviled by players, particularly when server issues arise that render the same games unplayable.
Such criticism was part of the downfall of Diablo 4, which now boasts fewer viewers on Twitch than ever.
It doesn’t help that Payday 2 had an offline mode, allowing players to embark on missions without needing an internet connection. This offline feature enabled players to play the game even when server issues occurred, a flexibility notably absent in the threequel. The lack of an offline mode, combined with the server issues, has led many to voice displeasure, with some even placing the blame on corporate entities higher up in the game’s production hierarchy.
Of course, it’s important to note that such decisions are often above a developer’s pay grade – it’s corporate executives in suits that often push for them for financial gains at the expense of player experience. There’s an inherent tension that exists between the need to prevent piracy, which was a major issue for Payday 2, and ensuring that loyal players have an enjoyable and uninterrupted experience. Always-online requirements can serve as a deterrent to piracy but at the cost of potentially alienating the player base.
The debate around always-online requirements isn’t new. The release of Payday 3 reminds us of the balance developers and studios must strike to ensure both profitability and player satisfaction.
