Payday 3 Offline Mode: Caveats Revealed

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

Starbreeze Entertainment has announced that an Offline Mode is coming to Payday 3 later this month. This follows significant player criticism for the game's initial lack of offline solo play. However, there's a crucial detail: an internet connection will still be required to access this new mode.

Payday, known for its cooperative heist gameplay and robust stealth mechanics, debuted in 2011 with Payday: The Heist. Payday 3 significantly enhanced stealth options, offering players greater freedom in mission approaches. The upcoming "Boys in Blue" update, scheduled for June 27th, introduces a new heist and the much-requested offline functionality.

While the Offline Mode will initially launch in beta, requiring an online connection, Starbreeze plans to eventually enable full offline play. This beta version will at least eliminate the need for solo players to use the matchmaking system, a major source of frustration. The absence of a dedicated solo offline mode, along with other missing features like The Safehouse, drew considerable negative feedback following Payday 3's launch.

The June 27th update includes more than just the Offline Mode beta. It will also feature a new heist, free in-game items, and various improvements, including a new LMG, three new masks, and the ability to custom-name loadouts.

Payday 3's launch was plagued by server issues and criticism over its limited initial content (only eight heists). Starbreeze CEO Tobias Sjögren apologized for these issues, and the team has since released several updates. Future heists will be added, but, unlike this update, they will be paid DLC; the first, "Syntax Error," costs $10. The addition of this offline mode, even in beta, represents a significant step towards addressing player concerns.