Starbreeze has announced a significant engine upgrade for its long-standing title, Payday 2. The development studio, which handed over primary control of the 2013 game to Sidetrack Games in 2025 to focus on Payday 3, is now bringing Payday 2 to a 64-bit architecture and DirectX 11 rendering.
This overhaul aims to improve performance by addressing persistent out-of-memory crashes and reducing VRAM usage, which should benefit lower-end hardware. Concurrently, the game's install size is being more than halved, shrinking from 86GB to 32GB. This update is designed to enhance the player experience for the enduringly popular heist shooter.
Engine Upgrade and Mod Compatibility
The engine update is scheduled to enter an open beta phase on June 30 and will run through the end of July. This beta will be accessible to all players interested in testing the new features before the full release. However, Sidetrack Games has cautioned that some existing mods will likely break due to the underlying engine changes. The studio has encouraged mod creators to update their work during the beta period, offering assistance with new file formats where possible.
Payday 3's Stagnant State
Meanwhile, Payday 3, the intended successor, continues to face significant challenges. Despite Starbreeze's stated intention to focus on the Payday franchise as a whole and specifically on Payday 3, recent developments have seen the game engage in crossovers with titles like PUBG and Roblox. The introduction of peer-to-peer support was a notable addition, but it has not significantly boosted the game's player base.
Payday 2, in contrast, maintains a strong presence on Steam, attracting a considerably larger audience than its newer counterpart. The decision to shift development focus to Payday 2's engine upgrade raises further questions about the future trajectory and perceived viability of Payday 3 within the franchise.