Starbreeze is preparing to launch a new virtual reality (VR) installment in its popular Payday franchise. Titled Payday: Aces High, this upcoming cooperative heist game is being developed by Fast Travel Games and is designed specifically for VR platforms, aiming to translate the strategic planning, collaborative gameplay, and chaotic action characteristic of the Payday series into an immersive virtual experience.
Payday: Aces High will allow up to four players to engage in heists, mirroring the established co-op mechanics of previous titles. For those who might find it challenging to assemble a full VR team, the game will also offer single-player support. Fast Travel Games, known for other VR titles such as Cities: VR and Vampire: The Masquerade: Justice, is at the helm of this development. Oskar Burman, CEO of Fast Travel Games, expressed enthusiasm for adapting the beloved Payday universe into a VR format, highlighting the privilege of working with such a renowned intellectual property.
This venture marks Starbreeze's continued exploration into virtual reality. The company previously released a VR version of Payday 2 in 2018, which was met with generally positive reception. Prior to that, in 2015, Starbreeze even attempted to enter the VR hardware market with its own headset, StarVR, and established VR arcades, although development for the headset was later put on hold in 2018. This latest move with Payday: Aces High is part of Starbreeze's broader strategy to expand the Payday brand through strategic licensing partnerships and innovative entertainment formats.
Adolf Kristjansson, CEO of Starbreeze, emphasized that Aces High is not merely an adaptation but a true Payday experience crafted from the ground up for VR, praising Fast Travel Games' extensive experience in the VR space. However, this new announcement comes amidst a period of considerable uncertainty for Starbreeze. The studio has faced ongoing issues with Payday 3 since its launch, with many players feeling it has not met expectations, especially when compared to the enduring popularity of Payday 2. Furthermore, Starbreeze has implemented multiple rounds of layoffs over the past six months and cancelled a previously announced cooperative Dungeons & Dragons game.
The broader VR market also presents its own set of challenges. High-profile VR titles, such as Assassin's Creed Nexus, have sometimes underperformed commercially despite critical acclaim, leading some publishers, like Ubisoft, to re-evaluate their VR investment strategies. Meta, a major player in the VR industry, recently closed several VR studios and shifted its focus, underscoring the dynamic and sometimes volatile nature of the virtual reality landscape. Despite these market conditions and internal challenges, Payday: Aces High is set to release in the third quarter of 2026, targeting Meta Quest and SteamVR platforms, with wishlisting currently available on both Steam and the Meta Store.
This upcoming VR title represents a significant step for Starbreeze in leveraging the Payday franchise within the immersive world of virtual reality. The collaboration with an experienced VR developer like Fast Travel Games aims to deliver a high-quality, engaging experience. However, its success will be closely watched, not only as a new entry in the Payday series but also as a test of the enduring appeal and commercial viability of large-scale VR gaming, particularly given the recent struggles faced by both Starbreeze and the wider VR market. The game's performance could provide valuable insights into the future direction of the Payday franchise and VR development in general.