PAYDAY 3 VR – The Sequel We All Want

Whether you’re aware or not but Starbreeze – the studio behind the PAYDAY series – very nearly went bankrupt a few years ago. The company just survived thanks to one single game, the hugely popular PAYDAY 2 – which is now 10 years old. Jumping on the VR hype train at the time, Starbreeze studio OVERKILL released a free VR addon in 2018, which actually turned out to be alright. Now with the recent PAYDAY 3 announcement during the Xbox Showcase, XR Source got to wondering, could PAYDAY 3 VR ever be a possibility?

Is PAYDAY 3 coming out?

First off, the announcement. Starbreeze has confirmed that PAYDAY 3 will be released on 21st September 2023. It’ll support Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Epic Games Store and Steam. From day one Xbox owners will find it on Game Pass whilst everyone will be able to pick up the standard copy for $39.99. There are, of course, Silver and Gold Editions with additional content bonuses, all of which are available to pre-order now.

Is PAYDAY 3 coming out for PS4?

Nope, just current-gen consoles.

Will PAYDAY 3 be crossplay?

Thankfully yes. PAYDAY 3 comes with crossplay enabled.

PAYDAY 3 screenshot2

Banking on PAYDAY 3 VR

PAYDAY 3 is definitely happening – and Starbreeze needs the launch to go well – but our dream is to rob New York City bank in virtual reality. If you’ve never played PAYDAY 2 VR then it’s worth a look if you already own the base game and the necessary hardware. It can’t compete with modern VR titles but as a free add-on, why not give it a try? It’s the perfect style of game for VR, city streets you can run and gun through, breaking into safes, and completing action-packed missions. Plus you could co-op with friends.

A VR sequel could then tap into this potential but with the added benefit of modern hardware. Especially where PSVR 2 is concerned. Eye tracking, headset haptics, 4K screens and more would make a PAYDAY 3 VR experience truly exceptional. Just imagine Firewall Ultra in NYC, conducting lucrative heists whilst dealing with the city’s security and police forces.

There’s also the small fact that VR is coming out of a lull thanks to new headsets and big franchise support. The likes of Apple Vision Pro and the Quest 3 announcement have both sparked a renewed interest in the technology. Whilst on the software side, big IPs like Resident Evil, Ghostbusters, Stranger Things, Assassin’s Creed Nexus, and even Alien, see the potential in the immersive gameplay possibilities VR offers.

Even if XR Source thinks it’s a good idea, whether Starbreeze considers it financially viable is another. That’ll all hinge on September’s launch.

Let us know what you think. Would you love to see a PAYDAY 3 VR game?