When does Payday 3 release – here's when you can play it on Xbox Game Pass

20 September 2023 , 16:00

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Payday 3 is out later this week on Xbox Game Pass, here's when you can jump in (Image: Starbreeze)

The latest entry in the Payday series comes out this week, and here's when you can jump in with your friends to pull off the heist of the century.

Payday 3 is finally here just over 10-years after the launch of Payday 2, with the latest in the crime-spree co-op title launching onto PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC this week. The latter two platforms will be getting it for free on day one with an Xbox Game Pass subscription. But when does Payday 3 release? Thankfully we now know the exact time we'll be able to start playing later this week.

For those unaware, the Payday series revolves around you and up to three friends teaming up as a group of criminals seeking to perform heists from the likes of jewellery shops, armoured vans, and of course, banks. The game focuses on stealthy play, where planning and divvying up tasks are key elements to your success – one person watches hostages to make sure no one trips alarms, another to breach the vault etc. Of course this being a co-op game, things rarely go to plan as our own Aaron Potter found out in his Payday 3 preview session, so thankfully the game is a competent first person shooter outside of all that.

When does Payday 3 release?

Developer Starbreeze confirmed that the Payday 3 release time is 4pm BST / 11am EDT / 8am PDT on Thursday, September 21 via the game's official website. The Payday 3 release is set for a simultaneous worldwide launch, so players in every region will be able to dive in at the exact same time.

The Payday 3 release comes amidst a jam-packed month which has been filled with the likes of Starfield, and Mortal Kombat 1. It's also adopted the 'pay for the more expensive edition to get early access' strategy, so players who have bought the Payday 3 Silver and Gold Editions have been able to play the game since the beginning of this week.

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The base game for Payday 3 costs £34.99 / $39.99 / AU$59.95. The Payday 3 Silver Edition comes in at £59.99 / $69.99 / AU$104.95 and includes the Dark Sterling Mask, three days of early access and the six-month version of the season pass which includes two Heists, Tailor Packs, and Weapon Packs.

Meanwhile, the Payday 3 Gold Edition comes in at £79.99 / $89.99 / AU$134.95 and includes the Dark Sterling Mask, Skull of Liberty Mask, Golden State Gloves, three days of early access, and the one year version of the season pass which includes four Heists, Tailor Packs, and Weapon Packs.

Currently the pricing for the PayDay 3 season pass on its own hasn't been announced, but given the price difference between the standard and Silver edition (which includes the first season pass) it's probably cost around £25 / $20 / AU$45. It may be worth picking up these more expensive versions of the game if you're interested in the season pass, but if you're just after the early access we'd recommend just waiting the extra day at this point.

Scott McCrae