Highlights
Payday 3 launched with high initial player numbers but has rapidly dropped due to server, matchmaking, and PC performance issues.
Payday 3 currently has a daily average of 3,676 concurrent players, which is significantly lower than Payday 2's 39,182. Developer Starbreeze acknowledges the problem, apologizes, and assures players that they are working on updates. The first patch is currently undergoing testing and certification.
Payday 3 continues to face significant challenges since its launch, as seen by the stark difference in player numbers compared to Payday 2 on Steam. Despite an encouraging start with 1.3 million players during its launch weekend, Payday 3 has been plagued by server and matchmaking issues, as well as performance problems on PC. These difficulties have led to a decline in player numbers and even prompted Starbreeze to issue an apology. The release of the highly anticipated installment in the heist game franchise took place one month ago on September 21. However, doubts already existed before its launch due to concerns over it being an always-online game, as well as significant changes in development teams from Overkill Software to Starbreeze. Sadly, it seems that these concerns have proven to be valid.
According to data tracked by SteamDB, Payday 3 is experiencing a significant decline in daily concurrent players, as compared to its predecessor. In a 24-hour period, Payday 3 only reached a peak of 3,676 concurrent players on Steam, whereas Payday 2 reached 39,182 players during the same time frame. Payday 3's numbers are more than 10 times lower than those of Payday 2, indicating a clear downward trend and suggesting that it might not recover any time soon.
It is worth mentioning that these figures are specific to Steam and do not take into account other platforms. Payday 3 is also available on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, as well as through PC Game Pass. It is possible that Payday 3 may be performing better on these platforms. However, it is important to note that while Steam's numbers may not be the sole indicator, they could still be indicative of the overall player base for Payday 3.
Starbreeze acknowledges that rebuilding a playerbase for Payday 3 will not happen overnight. The company has issued an apology for the lack of recent communication and assures Payday fans that they are actively addressing their concerns and working on updates for the game. Currently, the first patch for Payday 3 is undergoing testing and certification. The success of this patch in attracting players back to the game is uncertain, as regaining players' trust is the primary focus. If Payday 3 proves to be enjoyable and worthwhile, there is potential for a surge in player numbers. It is evident that there is still a sizable community of Payday fans, who are currently engaged in Payday 2.
Payday 3 is available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Source: PCGamesN
