PAYDAY 3: Blog Update #43 – Onboarding

The year was 2023, PAYDAY 3 had just been released, and we had a problem. Several problems, but let’s focus on the one we’re here to talk about, onboarding.

Onboarding refers to new player experience in PAYDAY, or how likely a new player is to understand, enjoy, and stick with the game. It’s been on our to-do for the longest time, and it’s been a priority, but one that we’ve unfortunately had to keep delaying for other, higher priorities.

Let’s let you guys into the conversation by sharing some of our thoughts—airing out what we think are the core issues we need to resolve in order for PAYDAY 3 to become as popular with the public as it is to our hardcore fans.

Complexity

PAYDAY is complex by its very nature. A heist is an intricate series of actions and events that should lead to the heister running away giggling with a dollar-signed burlap sack over their shoulder. For our veteran players, probably the ones reading this blog, that’s not much of a problem. For new players however, it’s a whole different story. 

At the beginning of the year, we conducted a round of playtesting using GoTestify, a UK-based company specialising in helping game developers understand players, to determine whether our tutorials were assisting new players in mastering the core skills to succeed. Shoutout to you guys! If you’d like to view some of the player insights or learn more, the videos are available for the public here.

It doesn’t take a game developer to see the problem; games need new players to flourish. We weren’t having issues with people trying out the game, but did have issues with them not sticking around. Now there’s always some, but at a rate we weren’t happy with.

There were no easy answers, and we identified issues across disciplines that all contributed to the problem. The one we’ll be introducing and tackling today, is one succinctly described as “there’s too much shit between the player starting a heist and grabbing the money.” With that stroke of genius in the air, we decided to test out this theory in a new game mode called Smash & Grab.

Smash & Grab

From our perspective, this is a bit of an experiment; which is fun! Trying new things and seeing how they work out is a pillar of game development. While it’s primarily aimed at helping new players get into the game, we do hope the simpler approach will resonate with veterans, committing to a 5-10 minute adventure in Crimetown is easier than a 15-20 minute one if time is of the essence. Quick in & out job, what could go wrong?

These “new” heists are based on heists you already know; No Rest for the Wicked and Boys in Blue. And before you ask, no you don’t need to own the DLC to play the Boys in Blue Smash & Grab. That setup will let us make a sample version of any new heist that everyone can play.

Smash & Grab is also a confidence builder—designed to let new players learn fast, succeed early, and get hooked without being overwhelmed. And for veterans, while it’s not a deep-planning puzzle box, higher difficulties introduce new twists like extra loot spread or vault access mechanics to keep things fresh.

You can find Smash & Grab heists under their own tab/category in CrimeNet or at the bottom of the big heist list, and they’ll be recommended for players below infamy 10.

Conclusion

As mentioned, this is all an experiment. One we hope will help improve the game and its future, but an experiment nonetheless. If you or someone you know has put down their masks, maybe this is the sign you’ve been waiting for to give it another go? And make sure to let us know what you think! Is this a building block for something great, or something that’s nice for newbies but not much more? Let us know on whatever platform you prefer, we read it all!

For anyone who’s new to the game entirely, we’ve added a QR code for console players to help in signing up to Nebula to remove some of the friction early on.

And for the combat junkies who don’t feel that this is for them, don’t worry, we got you. In the same update we’re releasing the Spearfish 1895 rifle, a lever-action rifle that’s able to fire rapidly when hipfired, or fire accurately with more punch when aimed down sight. You’ll see more of the Spearfish in a few days!

This fantastic update releases for free, on June 18th.