
PAYDAY 2
OVERKILL - a Starbreeze Studio. · Starbreeze Entertainment
PAYDAY 2 is an action-packed, four-player co-op shooter that once again lets gamers don the masks of the original PAYDAY crew - Dallas, Hoxton, Wolf and Chains - as they descend on Washington DC for an epic crime spree.
Year 13
Aug 13, 2025 - Aug 5, 2026
Espionage Weapon Pack DLC launched on April 30, 2026, introducing three new guns and two gadgets, marking a significant addition to PAYDAY 2's arsenal. Alongside this, the Jacket Character Pack became available as a standalone DLC on February 13, enhancing the character roster. The period also saw the release of a new PUBG Weapons Pack, including the Frying Pan and Flare Gun, and a limited-time PAYDAY Co-op Heist Mode in PUBG Arcade.
- New Weapons:
- Flare Gun: A new emergency signaling weapon.
- Frying Pan & Olive Branch: Added as new melee options.
- Strix Pistol: A new firearm introduced in the Espionage pack.
- Gameplay Enhancements:
- VR and Non-VR Versions Unified: Both versions of the game became a single executable file.
- New Classes for Heists: Players can now choose from five distinct classes: Assault, Medic, Tank, Marksman, and Ghost.
- New AI System: Implemented specifically for the PAYDAY x PUBG collaboration.
- Balance Changes:
- Saiga Dozers Damage Increase: Adjusted for better gameplay balance on Mayhem difficulty and below.
- OVESAW 9000 Adjustments: Magazine capacity reduced from 150 to 100, while base damage was increased significantly.
- Performance Improvements:
- The game engine was upgraded to 64-bit, enhancing overall performance and stability.
- DirectX 11 Renderer Update: Provided improved graphics performance.
- Seasonal Event:
- With Love From Erangel Challenge: Offered exclusive rewards in PAYDAY 3, including a suit, mask, and weapon charms.
Year 12
Aug 13, 2024 - Aug 13, 2025
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.
Year 11
Aug 13, 2023 - Aug 13, 2024
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.
Year 10
Aug 13, 2022 - Aug 13, 2023
PAYDAY: Crime War launched on June 6, 2023, bringing the franchise to mobile devices with co-op gameplay and 4v4 PvP modes. In addition, the McShay Mod Pack was released on December 15, 2022, introducing new weapon mods and a deployable. Players also gained access to the Crude Awakening Heist on June 28, 2023, the final heist of the Texas Heat campaign.
- New Heists:
- Hostile Takeover Heist launched on February 22, 2023, allowing players to select their objectives, impacting the heist's events.
- Lost in Transit Heist was released on October 25, 2022, where players must stop high-security trains to steal items.
- New Weapons:
- The McShay Weapon Pack 4 debuted on April 26, 2023, adding three new weapons: Deimos shotgun, Amaroq 900 sniper, and Campbell 74 LMG.
- McShay Weapon Pack 3 was released on February 1, 2023, featuring three additional new weapons.
- Gameplay Enhancements:
- The introduction of US Marshal Shields on February 22, 2023, brought new enemy units equipped with breakable shields.
- An in-game social hub for cross-play was added on June 8, 2023, improving multiplayer connectivity.
- New Perk Deck:
- The Copycat perk deck was introduced on December 15, 2022, allowing players to adapt armor, health, dodge, or stealth from other decks.
- Seasonal Events:
- The A Criminal Carol holiday event occurred from December 15, 2022, featuring community challenges to unlock new items.
- The 11th Anniversary Celebration on October 18, 2022, offered special items to commemorate the game's milestone.
Year 9
Aug 13, 2021 - Aug 13, 2022
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.
Year 8
Aug 13, 2020 - Aug 13, 2021
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.
Year 7
Aug 13, 2019 - Aug 13, 2020
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.
Year 6
Aug 13, 2018 - Aug 13, 2019
PAYDAY: The Text Adventure launched on June 25, 2019, introducing a new interactive short story that lets players choose different paths during heist pre-planning. This year also saw the introduction of PAYDAY Royale, a battle royale mode featuring 99 players on Hell's Island, alongside several new heists and gameplay mechanics.
- New Heists:
- Operation Black Light released on November 1, 2018, set in the heart of America.
- Hell’s Island debuted on October 26, 2018, featuring a loud rescue mission for Bain.
- Shackelthorne Auction launched on August 15, 2018, set in an isolated mansion.
- Gameplay Modes:
- HOLDOUT mode was introduced on August 17, 2018, where players fend off waves of enemies for ransom.
- Weekly HOLDOUT rewards were added, allowing players to earn special rewards each week.
- New Characters and Gear:
- Joy, a new character with a unique Hacker Perk Deck and weapons, joined on August 13, 2018.
- Exclusive gear unlocks and limited edition Miisters were introduced on April 1, 2019.
- Balance Changes:
- The time for cops to initiate an assault in the Branch Bank was reduced on November 8, 2018.
- Ammo pickup rates for the M13 Pistol were increased on October 27, 2018.
- Seasonal Events:
- The ICEBREAKER Event launched on August 13, 2018, celebrating the 5th anniversary of PAYDAY 2.
- Crimefest 2018 was announced for October 25, 2018, featuring content drops every other day.
Year 5
Aug 13, 2017 - Aug 13, 2018
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.
Year 4
Aug 13, 2016 - Aug 13, 2017
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.
Year 3
Aug 13, 2015 - Aug 13, 2016
Bodhi and the Point Break Heists launched on December 3, 2015, introducing a new character and two heists. This was followed by the Hardcore Henry Heists Pack on March 29, 2016, which added more heists and gameplay elements. The Biker Packs launched on June 14, 2016, further enriching the game's content with new characters and heists.
- New Characters:
- Bodhi, introduced with the Point Break Heists.
- Sydney, added on May 12, 2016, as a playable character.
- Rust, introduced on June 14, 2016, portrayed by Ron Perlman.
- Jimmy, a character from the Hardcore Henry movie, added on March 24, 2016.
- Heists and Gameplay Updates:
- The Point Break Heists included "Beneath the Mountain" and "Birth of Sky."
- The Hardcore Henry Heists Pack featured new heists.
- The Biker Heists introduced "Lion’s Den" and "Interception" on June 15, 2016.
- The Black Market was updated to make future safes free for all players starting June 26, 2016.
- Gameplay Mechanics:
- A significant removal of microtransactions on June 26, 2016, responding to community feedback.
- A revamped skill tree introduced on March 18, 2016, improving organization and specialization.
- Players gained 1 skill point per level up to a total of 100 skill points, enhancing progression.
- Seasonal Events:
- The Road to Crimefest event in September 2015 included new challenges leading up to PAYDAY 2's fourth birthday.
- The final challenge of this event occurred on October 10, 2015.
- Ongoing Support:
- OVERKILL announced continued support for PAYDAY 2 for another 18 months on May 30, 2016, ensuring players would receive new content and updates.
Year 2
Aug 13, 2014 - Aug 13, 2015
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.
Year 1
Aug 13, 2013 - Aug 13, 2014
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.