Does Payday 3 Cross-Platform Play Work? A Comprehensive Guide
Yes, Payday 3 absolutely supports cross-platform play. This means players on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S can all team up and heist together, regardless of their chosen platform. This feature allows you to play with friends who may own the game on different systems, breaking down traditional platform barriers and significantly expanding the pool of potential heist partners. Not only does Payday 3 offer crossplay, it also supports cross-progression. This means your game progress, including your character level, unlocked skills, and collected gear, will carry over seamlessly regardless of the system you choose to play on.
This dual implementation of crossplay and cross-progression ensures a smooth and unified gaming experience, allowing you to freely switch between platforms without losing any of your hard-earned progress. You can start a heist on your PC, take a break, and then continue from where you left off on your console, maintaining all your advancements.
Crossplay Functionality in Detail
How Does Crossplay Work in Payday 3?
The crossplay feature in Payday 3 is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly. When you boot up the game for the first time, you will generally be asked if you wish to enable crossplay. By accepting this prompt, you’re immediately ready to engage in heists with players across all supported platforms.
Disabling Crossplay
If you prefer to only play with users on your own platform, the game provides an option to disable crossplay. To do so, simply follow these steps:
- Navigate to the “More” section in the main menu.
- Click on “Settings”.
- Select “Gameplay”.
- Scroll down and locate the “Disable Crossplay” option.
- Switch it to “Yes”.
Keep in mind that by disabling crossplay, you will be limiting your matchmaking pool to players solely on your specific console or PC, potentially leading to longer wait times when searching for a heist group. Conversely, leaving crossplay enabled will open you up to a wider and more diverse player base.
Cross-Progression: Seamless Transfers
The inclusion of cross-progression is a major draw for players who like to switch between gaming platforms. No longer are you bound to one console or PC to maintain your progress. All your hard-earned loot, unlocked skills, and levels will be accessible regardless of where you play. This is done by linking your account across the different gaming ecosystems. This greatly encourages the use of multiple platforms to access the game, as players can continue to progress without starting all over again.
Addressing Common Concerns
Server Issues and Matchmaking
While the idea of seamless cross-platform play is fantastic, Payday 3 has faced its share of challenges, particularly regarding server stability and matchmaking. Some players have reported extended wait times and difficulties connecting to heists, a frustrating experience which has led to mixed reviews about the game overall. These issues highlight the teething problems that often arise with ambitious online titles and have left some players asking for improved server performance.
Why Online Only?
It’s worth noting that Payday 3 is an online-only game. This decision, according to developer Starbreeze Studios, was to ensure that all players were using the same version of the game, reducing the inconsistencies experienced with Payday 2. While this is an advantage to ensure that the game is synchronized among all players, it can be frustrating if there are matchmaking issues, preventing players from playing solo.
The Legacy of Payday 2
The shadow of Payday 2 looms large over Payday 3. While the new game incorporates smoother movement, vaulting, mantling and sliding, it still faces criticism for being a less fulfilling experience when compared to Payday 2. Many players still prefer the amount of content and established gameplay that Payday 2 offers over Payday 3. At the time of this writing, Payday 2 has more active players than Payday 3, making it clear that Payday 3 still has a long road to travel.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Payday 3 cross-platform with PS4?
No, Payday 3 is not cross-platform compatible with PS4. It is available for PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S. The absence of PS4 support means players on last-gen consoles will not be able to engage in crossplay with those on other platforms.
2. Can Xbox and PC players play together?
Yes, absolutely. Payday 3 allows Xbox Series X/S and PC players to crossplay seamlessly. This feature significantly widens the pool of potential heist partners and enriches the overall gaming experience.
3. What platforms is Payday 3 available on?
Payday 3 is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. These are the only platforms where the game can be officially played.
4. Can crossplay be disabled?
Yes, crossplay can be easily disabled in the game’s settings. This allows you to play only with players on your chosen platform, though this could lead to longer matchmaking times.
5. Does Payday 3 have cross-progression?
Yes, Payday 3 supports cross-progression, meaning your progress carries over between platforms. Your unlocks, levels, and items are linked across accounts.
6. Is Payday 3 an online-only game?
Yes, Payday 3 requires an active internet connection to play, making it an online-only game. This was implemented to maintain consistency across all players but has been criticized by some.
7. How much does Payday 3 cost?
Payday 3 is priced at around $40, making it a relatively affordable new release. This pricing strategy, as suggested by developers, is to ensure the game is accessible to more people.
8. Why are there negative reviews for Payday 3?
Many negative reviews for Payday 3 stem from matchmaking issues, server problems, and a perceived lack of content compared to Payday 2. Also, the always online requirement has frustrated players.
9. Is Payday 3 better than Payday 2?
While Payday 3 offers updated graphics and movement, many players still prefer Payday 2 due to its greater content and lack of technical difficulties.
10. Does Payday 2 support crossplay?
No, Payday 2 does not support crossplay between different platforms. However, it does allow cross-generation play on the same brand of consoles, ie, PlayStation and Xbox.
11. Who developed Payday 3?
Payday 3 was developed by Starbreeze Studios, who also acquired Overkill Software, known for the Payday series.
12. What’s new in Payday 3’s gameplay?
Payday 3 introduces smoother movement, sliding, vaulting, and mantling mechanics, providing players with more mobility options compared to Payday 2.
13. How does Payday 3 matchmaking work?
Matchmaking in Payday 3 has faced criticism due to technical issues and long wait times. These problems have contributed to the negative reviews of the game.
14. What are the server problems reported?
Players have reported frequent server issues, extended wait times, and problems connecting to heists. These issues have made it difficult for players to consistently access the game.
15. Does Payday 3 have offline mode?
No, Payday 3 does not have an offline mode. This online-only requirement is meant to ensure all players are using the same version of the game.
In conclusion, Payday 3’s crossplay and cross-progression features are a definite boon, but its launch has been hampered by technical difficulties and a steep challenge to the popularity of its predecessor. While the cross-platform functionality works as intended, players may need to contend with server and matchmaking problems before the game fully lives up to its potential.