Payday 3 always online confirmation met with dismay from fans

It’s been confirmed that gamers will require a constant internet connection to play Payday 3, even when playing solo, and fans are outraged.

Given we’re almost a full decade on from the release of Payday 2, it’s understandable that fans have been incredibly hyped for the upcoming threequel. The co-op FPS, which is being developed by both Overkill Software and Starbreeze Studios, got an official release date during June’s Xbox Games Showcase - it’ll be landing on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S on 21 September, adding to the month’s stacked lineup.

Take a look at the gameplay reveal trailer for Payday 3 below.

Unfortunately, fans got some bad news last week during a livestream hosted by Starbreeze Studio’s global brand director, Almir Listo, who was asked by a viewer if Payday 3 will have an offline mode in which gamers can play solo. Listo responded: “No. You will be able to play it by yourself, but I do believe you will have to have a connection in order to play, because it’s made in Unreal Engine, it’s using cross-progression, [and] cross-play. I do believe we need you to be online, my dude.”

As PC Gamer reports, on Reddit, fans have been expressing their frustration at the situation. Some say that they now regret preordering the game, with many slating the lack of offline play as a “dealbreaker”.

“I live in the middle of nowhere with s**t wifi. This is basically a dealbreaker unfortunately,” Flexibleheart41 wrote. “As a purely solo player who's always had terrible internet this genuinely does put me off from ever purchasing the video game,” commented aretzuu. “I fear for what gaming will look like 10 years from now, and how many games will simply be unplayable because of s**t like this,” Vasxus added.

Yikes, given that the game isn’t out yet, this controversy doesn’t bode too well. We’ll have to wait and see how it fares at release.