Thanks to the VR Games Showcase this past week, there has been an abundance of new video game announcements. One of the most surprising and unexpected came from Fast Travel Games, collaborating with Starbreeze Entertainment on a new PAYDAY title. Called PAYDAY: Aces High, it’s set to arrive later this year for Meta Quest and SteamVR.
Heist Chaos Begins in 2026
The PAYDAY franchise has been a massive success for Starbreeze since the launch of PAYDAY 2 in 2013. So much so, the studio lived and almost died on that success – 2023’s PAYDAY 3 was not as well received as its predecessor.
Nevertheless, the franchise continues to revolve around its core mechanic of a four-player, co-op heist game. And that same frantic, action-packed gameplay returns in PAYDAY: Aces High, this time with all the immersive qualities of VR.
“For the past 15 years, we’ve admired how PAYDAY lets players jump into scenarios straight out of the wildest Hollywood crime movies and take heists into their own hands,” said Erik Odeldahl, Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder at Fast Travel Games. “We’re kicking things up to the next level this year with PAYDAY: Aces High – get ready to lock-and-load with up to three other heisters, in the immersion that only VR can bring!”
PAYDAY: Aces High Gameplay
While the central four-player action remains the same, undertaking daring challenges as a bunch of professional criminals, PAYDAY: Aces High adds its own unique blend to the franchise.
Firstly, there’s a brand new narrative whereby you and your team have been framed by business titan Warren Jupiter. This means it’s time to enact your revenge in the only way you know how: heists! Each player can select from one of four character classes:
- Ace of Hearts: The Mastermind – The brain behind the chaos. Lines up every angle, every fallback, every escape.
- Ace of Clubs: The Ghost – Silent, surgical, gone before anyone knows they’ve been fooled.
- Ace of Diamonds: The Technician – Gadget freak. Orchestrating the theatre of destruction.
- Ace of Spades: The Enforcer – The hammer that keeps hitting when things get loud.
After that, it’s time to gear up and select your own loadout. Pick from ARs, SMGs, shotguns, and pistols, as well as gadgets like grapple and sentry guns. Successful heists earn you cash and rep, which can be spent on new skills and gear for the next job.
An officially licensed part of the PAYDAY universe, PAYDAY: Aces High is coming to Meta Quest and SteamVR in 2026.
Payday Returns to VR
Those with a long memory will know that PAYDAY: Aces High isn’t the first time the franchise has stepped into VR. Way back in 2018, when adding VR support to older games was new and trendy, Starbreeze’s internal studio OVERKILL released PAYDAY 2 VR as free DLC to the wildly popular flatscreen game.
If you owned PAYDAY 2 on PC, then it was a no-brainer as the VR DLC worked extremely well. One of the early showcases that VR and flatscreen gaming can come together.
Hopefully, Fast Travel Games’ version can retain what made the series great, whilst adding its own VR twist. Let us know if you’re looking forward to the launch in the comments.
