Payday 3 Offline Mode Arrives, Conditions Apply

Payday 3's upcoming Offline Mode: A step forward, but with a catch

Starbreeze Entertainment has announced an Offline Mode for Payday 3, launching later this month. This follows significant player backlash over the game's initial lack of offline play. However, there's a crucial detail: this new mode will still require an internet connection.

Since its debut in 2011 with Payday: The Heist, the Payday franchise has redefined the FPS genre, emphasizing cooperative gameplay and intricate heists. Known for its stealth mechanics and diverse weaponry, Payday 3 enhanced stealth options, providing players with greater tactical freedom. The upcoming "Boys in Blue" update introduces a new heist and, importantly, this much-requested Offline Mode.

Launching initially as a beta, the Offline Mode will eventually allow completely offline solo play. For now, though, a connection to Payday 3's servers is necessary. This does eliminate the need for solo players to use the matchmaking system, a significant point of contention among players who also criticized the absence of classic features like The Safehouse.

Payday 3's June 27th update includes:

• Offline Mode Beta: A solo mode, initially requiring an online connection, but slated for full offline functionality later.
• New Heist: Adding to the game's content.
• Free Items & Improvements: Including a new LMG, three masks, and custom loadout naming.

Starbreeze's Head of Community, Almir Listo, confirmed the Offline Mode's beta status and ongoing development. The game's rocky launch, plagued by server issues and criticized for its limited initial content (only eight heists), prompted an apology from CEO Tobias Sjögren last September. While future updates will add more heists, they will be paid DLC, with the first, "Syntax Error," costing $10. The addition of this Offline Mode, even with its initial limitations, represents a step toward addressing player concerns.