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Tag: Payday 2

  • Payday 2 to receive massive update, including Engine overhaul

    Even years after its initial launch, Payday 2 continues to captivate players, often basking in the glow of its predecessor. However, with the arrival of Payday 3, many wondered if the classic title could evolve further. Now, Starbreeze and their team at Sidetrack Games are addressing this by promising a major technological leap for the game’s foundation.

    The key to Payday 2‘s enduring appeal lies in its core technology, the Diesel Engine. While that engine has served the community faithfully for years, its age meant it was left behind by modern demands. Recognizing the need for an evolution that respects the game’s legacy while embracing contemporary performance standards, the development team is set to deliver a significant overhaul.

    Starbreeze has officially announced that the Diesel Engine is receiving a major upgrade to version 3.0. This isn’t just a cosmetic change; it’s a foundational revamp designed to dramatically improve the experience for players and ensure the game remains robust for the future.

    Get ready for some seriously exciting changes. On June 30th, Steam players will be invited to join an Open Beta and test out this all-new engine. This update promises a suite of performance improvements, including official 64-bit architecture support, an upgrade from DX9 to DX11 rendering, and notably faster load times, especially when playing on SSDs.

    Beyond the visual fidelity, this engine upgrade focuses heavily on practical improvements that enhance the player experience. Among the anticipated changes are file size reduction, slashing the game’s footprint from roughly 80GB down to an impressive 32GB, alongside new features like a system for six character lobby codes.

    This evolution is particularly significant given the history of the franchise. While Payday 3 adopted Unreal Engine 4—which presented its own set of development challenges—updating the Diesel Engine now provides the perfect opportunity to bring the classic gameplay experience up to modern standards. It ensures that Payday 2 doesn’t just hold its ground, but reclaims its place as a high-performance shooter.

    By tackling the engine itself, the developers are laying the groundwork for future releases. This massive upgrade isn’t just about fixing old issues; it’s about ensuring that the core mechanics of Payday 2 can benefit from modern optimization, promising a smoother, faster, and more appealing journey for every player.

    Credit: KitGuru

  • As its much newer sequel struggles, the 13-year-old Payday 2 is getting a ‘massive engine upgrade’ that improves performance and cuts the install size in half

    The Engine Upgrade: How Starbreeze is Redefining the Payday Legacy

    In a strategic move designed to sharpen its focus on the future of the franchise, Starbreeze has recently handed the reins of Payday 2 development over to Sidetrack Games. This pivot allows the studio to dedicate its full energy to tackling the challenges facing Payday 3, setting the stage for a major overhaul that promises significant technical improvements for the beloved shooter.

    This isn’t just a change of address; it’s a massive technical upgrade. The engine update is set to bring Payday 2 into a new era by porting it to a 64-bit architecture. This crucial shift is designed to eliminate the persistent out-of-memory crashes that plagued the game over the years, ensuring a smoother and more stable experience for players.

    Beyond stability, the upgrade introduces DirectX 11 rendering capabilities. While this change won’t magically enhance the visuals, it offers a substantial performance boost by utilizing significantly less VRAM. This means Payday 2 will run much better on lower-end hardware, making high-quality gameplay more accessible to a wider audience.

    The efficiency gains extend to the installation itself. Starbreeze has managed to drastically reduce the game’s size, cutting the install size by more than half, shrinking it from 86GB down to a manageable 32GB.

    Of course, major technical overhauls always invite some scrutiny from the modding community. As anticipated, there will be inevitable friction. Sidetrack Games has proactively addressed this by encouraging mod makers to repair what can be repaired during the beta testing phase for the engine upgrade, promising support for new file formats as they emerge.

    To give the community a chance to test these exciting changes before final release, an open beta is planned. Enthusiasts interested in experiencing the engine overhaul firsthand can sign up for the test running from June 30th through the end of July. Details on accessing this beta will be made available shortly.

    While Payday 2 continues to thrive on Steam, the focus remains squarely on the next chapter. With Starbreeze exploring exciting new avenues—including crossovers with titles like PUBG and Roblox, alongside the introduction of peer-to-peer support—the spotlight is firmly fixed on making Payday 3 a successful and ambitious endeavor.

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    Credit: PC Gamer