PAYDAY 2

Under The Hammer Heist DLC released with a new auction-house robbery, adding a fresh heist and a themed arsenal. Native VR support also arrived alongside a major 64-bit and DirectX 11 engine upgrade, improving PAYDAY 2’s technical foundation without requiring separate executables for flatscreen and VR.

• Under The Hammer content: The DLC expanded the heist with several named rewards:
  • Karussell Revolving Shotgun: Added as the pack’s unique shotgun, with its pickup rate later reduced while the Breaker 12G’s pickup rate increased.
  • Last Call: Added as a new melee weapon.
  • Comedy and Tragedy: Added as two new masks.
  • Vintage Sight: Became unlockable for BFD Junior Achievement players regardless of DLC ownership.
• VR and engine overhaul: Native VR Support removed the need for separate flatscreen and VR executables, while the 64-bit and DirectX 11 upgrade brought faster loading, better CPU utilization, and a new asset-compression system that reduced the game’s storage footprint. VR players also gained a table in the Auctioneer’s Office for jumping over stealth lasers.
• Heist and combat tuning: Tag Team gained improved activation through enemies and better teammate hit detection; Arbiter Grenade Launcher fragmentation ammo damage rose from 480 to 500; and China Puff Grenade Launcher damage increased from 960 to 1,000. Under The Hammer also received interaction, zipline, vault-ceiling, hint-placement, and performance adjustments.
• Notable reliability work: The Under The Hammer updates removed softlocks caused by incorrect stealth codes, alarms during art scans, and Garrett’s second office entry in Breakin’ Feds, while also addressing VR lootbag crashes and the Apollonius cutter crash linked to the aced Kickstarter skill.

Espionage Weapon Pack DLC launched on April 30, 2026, bringing a host of new content to PAYDAY 2, including three new weapons and two gadgets. This update was complemented by the Jacket Character Pack, which became available as a standalone DLC on February 13, 2026. Players also experienced a unique collaboration with PUBG, featuring a limited-time co-op heist mode and new weapons inspired by the game.

• New Content:

  • PUBG Weapons Pack released on May 19, 2026, introduced the Frying Pan and Flare Gun.
  • PAYDAY Co-op Heist Mode in PUBG Arcade launched on May 13, 2026, with redesigned heists from PAYDAY 3.
  • New Classes for heists added, including Assault, Medic, Tank, Marksman, and Ghost on May 13, 2026.
  • New Weapons: Flare Gun, Fry Pan, Strix Pistol, and Ballerina 9mm Submachine Gun added in the Espionage update.

• Gameplay Changes:

  • Adjustments to Firestarter Heist stealth mechanics on May 19, 2026, enhanced the heist's challenge.
  • New AI System for PAYDAY Heists in PUBG introduced on May 13, 2026.
  • Killing Enemies in Loud now alerts nearby enemies as of April 30, 2026.

• Balance Changes:

  • Increased damage for the OVESAW 9000 and adjustments to the Saiga Dozers on April 30, 2026.
  • Reworked Sharp Blade Weapon Mod damage bonus from 3 to 12, also effective April 30, 2026.

• Performance Upgrades:

  • The game upgraded to 64-bit architecture and a new DX11 rendering system, enhancing performance significantly on June 30, 2026.
  • Faster Load Times for SSDs were also introduced in the same update.

• Seasonal Event:

  • The With Love From Erangel Challenge on May 13, 2026, offered exclusive rewards for players participating in the event.

PAYDAY 2 introduced a new News Feed in the Main Menu on September 12, 2024, marking a notable addition for players. Alongside this, the game also underwent a significant balance change where Molotov Explosions were altered to explode on contact only, removing the previous timer mechanic.

• New Feature: Added a News Feed to the main menu, providing players with updates and information.
• Gameplay Change: Molotov Explosions Changed to Contact Only on September 12, enhancing gameplay dynamics.
• Stealth Setting Update: The Stealth Prompt setting was changed from enabled to disabled by default when creating a lobby, streamlining the lobby experience.
• Content Removal: Removed Expired Licensed Content, which does not affect players who purchased PAYDAY 2 prior to this update.

PAYDAY 2 bundled all licensed content into a single DLC on November 29, 2023, streamlining access for players. Additionally, the introduction of a New Interaction Styles Feature on September 27, 2023, allowed players to customize their interaction methods with four distinct styles, enhancing gameplay flexibility. The 10th Anniversary Event celebrated a decade of PAYDAY 2 with community challenges and exclusive in-game items.

• DLC Release: Bundled Licensed Content launched on November 29, 2023.
• New Content:
  • New Interaction Styles Feature introduced on September 27, 2023.
  • Infamous Collection DLC released on August 16, 2023, containing all existing PAYDAY 2 DLC.
  • New in-game items and the 'Dead Game' suit added as part of the 10th Anniversary event.
  • Lost Tapes 4 made available on August 16, 2023.
• Gameplay Changes:
  • Damage Over Time Mechanics were reworked on November 29, 2023.
  • Adjustments to enemy AI fire mode tables and various heist interaction changes were implemented on September 13 and 27, 2023.
  • A new Piggy Bucks system was introduced on August 16, 2023, allowing players to earn rewards through gameplay.
• Seasonal Events: The 10th Anniversary Event, featuring the Golden Piggy, ran from August 16 to 25, 2023, with a wrap-up on August 25.
• Quality of Life Updates: Inventory search functionality was added on September 27, 2023, along with improvements to the lobby filtering mechanism and the store's search bar functionality.

The Texas Heat campaign reached its conclusion in PAYDAY 2 with the Crude Awakening heist in June 2023. Across the year, players also received additional heists, weapon packs, a perk deck and updates to multiplayer systems.

• Crude Awakening: This June 2023 heist closed out the Texas Heat campaign.
• Lost in Transit: The crew took on a high-security train in this October 2022 heist.
• Hostile Takeover: Released in February 2023, this heist let players choose objectives that affected how the job unfolded.
• Weapons and equipment: McShay weapon packs expanded the arsenal, while the McShay Mod Pack added weapon modifications and a deployable.
• Copycat and enemies: The Copycat perk deck offered customizable bonuses, and US Marshal Shields added a shield-bearing enemy type.
• Cross-play: An in-game social hub arrived in June 2023 to help players connect across platforms.

Mountain Master Heist DLC launched on March 9, 2022, introducing a new heist set in San Francisco, alongside several notable content additions throughout Year 9. This period also saw the release of the Mega City Tailor Pack and City of Gold - The Black Cat Heist, both of which provided players with new heist experiences and cosmetic options.

• New Gameplay Mechanics: Introduced the Infamy 4.0 System on June 1, 2022, allowing players to rank up Infamy without resetting their levels or skills, enhancing progression flexibility.

  • New Piggy Bank Mechanic: Added on August 11, 2022, players can now fill a golden Piggy Bank with Piggy Bucks earned through gameplay.
  • Community Challenges: Also launched on August 11, allowing players to collaborate to unlock cosmetics via Piggy Bucks.

• New Heists and Content:

  • The Midland Ranch Heist debuted on June 21, 2022, as part of the Texas Heat saga, offering new mission objectives.
  • Multiple tailor packs were released, including the High Octane Tailor Pack and Southbound Tailor Pack, featuring themed outfits and accessories.

• Balance Changes: Significant adjustments were made to various weapons and enemies, including the RUS-12 Angry Tiger Revolver, which saw its stats tweaked for improved performance.

• Seasonal Events: The Halloween Event and a special 10th Anniversary Carnival Game Mode were also highlighted, providing themed content and gameplay variations during their respective periods.

• Crash and Bug Fixes: A major fix addressed crashes related to save files and gameplay mechanics, ensuring improved stability for players experiencing issues during heists.

Ukrainian Prisoner Heist DLC launched on June 16, 2021, introducing a new heist set in the San Francisco Dockyards, playable in both stealth and loud modes. This period also saw the Infamy 3.0 System Expansion, which raised the maximum level for Infamy and added new rewards, alongside the 8th Anniversary Event featuring unique challenges and rewards.

• New Heists:

  • Ukrainian Prisoner Heist: A new heist with stealth and loud options.
  • New Heists for Crime Spree: Six new heists added, including Breaking Feds and Shacklethorne Auction.

• DLC Releases:

  • Jiu Feng Smuggler Pack DLC (February 24, 2021): Introduced three new weapons and 20 weapon colors.
  • Jiu Feng Smuggler Pack 2 (May 20, 2021): Added three new weapons and an electrical stun grenade.
  • Weapon Color Pack 3 (November 11, 2020): Added 20 new weapon colors.

• Gameplay Changes:

  • Introduced Range-Based Damage Multipliers on March 5, 2021, affecting weapon performance.
  • Adjusted enemy difficulty on Normal mode to make the game more accessible for new players.

• Balance Adjustments:

  • Kingpin Perk Deck health boost was fixed to provide intended benefits (June 18, 2021).
  • Various weapon stats tweaked, including the Chimano 88 Pistol and Patchett L2A1 adjustments.

• Seasonal Events:

  • Little Heisters' Holiday Update (December 16, 2020): Added festive content including masks and outfits.
  • 8th Anniversary Event (August 12, 2021): Featured community challenges and exclusive rewards.

PAYDAY 2 launched the Border Crossing Heist DLC on November 7, 2019, introducing a new heist set in Arizona featuring Murkywater and the Dentist. This period also marked the reintroduction of the Smörgåsbord DLC, allowing players to purchase previous legacy content again. Notably, development resumed, promising more updates and content in the future.

• New Heists:

  • San Martín Bank Heist launched on February 27, 2020, offering players the option to approach the mission with stealth or aggression.
  • Border Crossing Heist was released on November 7, 2019, as part of the new heist content.

• New Content:

  • The Federales Weapon Pack added three full auto pistols on February 27, 2020.
  • The Outfits System was introduced on November 7, 2019, allowing players to customize their characters with new outfits.
  • Community Safe 8 added 16 new weapon skins from the Steam workshop on November 7, 2019.

• Gameplay Changes:

  • Significant modifications to safe functionality occurred on February 20, 2020, including the removal of safe trading and drill purchases.
  • The AI Loadout Saving feature launched on April 28, 2020, improving management of AI teammates.

• UI Overhaul:

  • An extensive UI and menu overhaul took place on November 7, 2019, streamlining navigation for players.

• New Weapons and Customization:

  • Three new weapons were added on June 30, 2020, alongside new weapon colors and customization options.

PAYDAY 2 continued its fifth-anniversary celebrations with new heists and the wave-based Holdout mode. The year also brought the end of Bain's story and a separate interactive text adventure.

• Holdout: Players defended a hostage against successive waves of police, with weekly rewards for taking part.
• Shackelthorne Auction: The crew targeted an auction in a secluded mansion in this August 2018 heist.
• Hell's Island: The October heist sent the crew on a loud rescue mission to find Bain.
• Operation Black Light: The November release continued the story with a heist in the heart of America.
• Text adventure: PAYDAY: The Text Adventure offered a separate interactive story about heist planning. The April 1 PAYDAY Royale promotion was a joke, rather than a released battle royale mode.

Reservoir Dogs Heist launched on December 14, 2017, marking a significant collaboration that introduced a new heist to PAYDAY 2. This period also saw the release of the h3h3 Character Pack, adding Ethan and Hila with a new co-op focused perk deck. Additionally, PAYDAY 2 VR was fully integrated, allowing VR players access to nearly all game features.

• New Heists:

  • Henry’s Rock: A new heist set in a Murkywater facility, launched on April 29, 2018.
  • Brooklyn Bank Heist: Introduced on December 21, 2017, featuring unique challenges.
  • Alaskan Deal: Released on October 23, 2017, as part of the game’s expanding heist roster.

• New Weapons and Gear:

  • MA-17 Flamethrower: A new secondary weapon added on July 19, 2018.
  • Union Rifle and Alabama Razor: Introduced with the Reservoir Dogs Heist on December 14, 2017.
  • New Akimbo Weapons and Leather Sap: Added on October 25, 2017.

• Gameplay Changes:

  • VR Integration: Full integration of PAYDAY 2 VR on March 15, 2018, along with automatic installation/uninstallation of the VR DLC.
  • New Driving System: Introduced on March 15, 2018, enhancing vehicle interactions.
  • New Game Modes: Added Tower Defense and Battle Royale modes on April 1, 2018.

• Seasonal Events:

  • Crimefest 2017: Announced on October 19, 2017, featuring challenges, masks, and quality of life improvements.
  • Nightmare Safehouse Event: A limited-time event on October 31, 2017, featuring a nightmare version of the old safehouse.

• Balance Changes:

  • Significant adjustments, including the removal of all weapons except the Car-4 to address balance issues, implemented on April 1, 2018.

PAYDAY 2: Ultimate Edition launched on June 12, 2017, consolidating the base game and all DLC into a single package. This period also saw the release of the John Wick Heists DLC on February 9, introducing two new heists: Brooklyn 10-10 and The Yacht Heist, along with new weapons and masks. Additionally, the Crime Spree game mode debuted on April 6, allowing players to chain heists for rewards.

• Major Content Drops:

  • PAYDAY 2: Ultimate Edition launched on June 12, 2017.
  • John Wick Heists DLC released on February 9, 2017, featuring Brooklyn 10-10 and The Yacht Heist.
  • Scarface Heist Pack launched on December 15, 2016, introducing a heist against the Sosa Cartel in Miami.

• New Game Modes:

  • Introduction of the Crime Spree game mode on April 6, 2017, enabling players to accumulate ranks through chained heists.
  • New gameplay elements introduced during the Search for Kento Event from April 3 to April 12, 2017.

• New Characters and Weapons:

  • Ethan Character Pack introduced on April 1, 2017, featuring a new character with unique abilities.
  • Gage Russian Weapon Pack released on March 23, 2017, included weapons like the AK17 and Vintovka Sniper Rifle.

• Gameplay Enhancements:

  • New features like full controller support for Crime Spree were added on April 27, 2017.
  • Various gameplay adjustments improved the sync for player actions and enemy behavior.

• Seasonal Events:

  • The Search for Kento Event provided limited-time content and rewards from April 3 to April 12, 2017.
  • Xmas Heist event on December 8, 2016, introduced a festive heist involving rescuing a drunk Santa.

Bodhi and the Point Break Heists launched on December 3, 2015, introducing a new character and two heists, marking a significant expansion of PAYDAY 2's content. Additionally, the Hardcore Henry Heists Pack debuted on March 29, 2016, adding more heists and gameplay features. The Biker Packs followed on June 14, 2016, further expanding the game with new characters and missions.

• Major DLC Releases:

  • Bodhi and the Point Break Heists on December 3, 2015
  • Hardcore Henry Heists Pack on March 29, 2016
  • Biker Packs on June 14, 2016

• New Characters and Heists:

  • Bodhi, a new character, was introduced alongside two heists: Beneath the Mountain and Birth of Sky.
  • Sydney, another new character, launched on May 12, 2016, along with her associated content.
  • Rust, voiced by Ron Perlman, joined the game with the Biker Packs.

• Gameplay Changes:

  • The Black Market Update on June 26, 2016, made all future safes free for players.
  • A skills beta was introduced, revamping skills and perks based on community feedback.
  • The ability to reload while running was added to enhance gameplay dynamics.

• Balance Changes:

  • All microtransactions were removed on June 26, 2016, reversing previous implementations that faced community backlash.
  • Various weapon adjustments improved balance, including reworks to shotguns and melee weapon damage.

• Seasonal Events:

  • The final challenge of the Road to Crimefest event occurred on October 10, 2015, as part of the build-up to PAYDAY 2's fourth anniversary.

Gage Ninja Pack launched on July 16, 2015, marking a significant addition to PAYDAY 2's content. This period also featured the Golden Grin Casino Heist, which debuted on June 25, 2015, expanding the game's heist options significantly.

• New Heists:

  • Golden Grin Casino Heist: Introduced on June 25, featuring new gameplay elements.
  • The Alesso Heist: Added in three phases, with the first day launching on May 19, 2015.
  • Car Shop Heist: Released on March 18, allowing players to steal high-performance sports cars.

• DLC Releases:

  • Butcher's Western Pack: Released on April 30, 2015, adding new content including the Sheriff Cloaker.
  • Gage Historical Pack: Launched on November 13, 2014, with new weapons and characters.
  • John Wick DLC: Released on October 22, 2014, introducing the iconic character as a playable option.

• Gameplay Enhancements:

  • Infamy 2.0 System: Expanded with 20 new levels on March 5, 2015, allowing for more character progression.
  • Multi Skill Builds Feature: Introduced on December 16, 2014, enabling players to create multiple skill sets for different heist styles.

• Seasonal Events:

  • White Xmas Heist: The second annual Xmas heist, released on December 2, 2014, offered a festive heist experience.

• Balance Changes:

  • Increased Experience Rewards: Implemented across all jobs on August 28, 2014, enhancing the reward system for players.

Big Bank DLC launched on June 17, 2014, marking a significant content expansion for PAYDAY 2 in its first year. This update introduced a new heist along with additional gameplay elements. Other notable additions included the Gage Sniper Pack DLC and the Gage Mod Courier DLC, both of which provided players with new weapons and mechanics.

• Major DLC Releases:

  • Big Bank DLC launched on June 17, 2014, adding a new heist and gameplay features.
  • Gage Sniper Pack DLC released on May 8, 2014, introducing sniper rifles and new achievements.
  • Gage Mod Courier DLC launched on April 10, 2014, allowing players to act as weapon mod couriers.

• New Heists and Characters:

  • The Shadow Raid Heist was added on May 29, 2014, as a free update.
  • Old Hoxton, a new character, was announced for free release on August 11, 2014.

• Gameplay Mechanics:

  • A new Stealth Reward System was implemented on March 5, 2014, granting EXP boosts for completing heists stealthily.
  • The Infamy system was introduced on January 22, 2014, allowing players to progress through five levels of prestige.

• Balance and Tuning:

  • The Crime.net economy was revamped on September 13, 2013, improving mission rewards.
  • Various adjustments were made to the stealth mechanics and enemy behavior throughout the year to enhance gameplay.

• Seasonal Events:

  • The First Annual OVERKILL Xmas Heist was announced on December 13, 2013, introducing festive content and free rewards.