Starbreeze has launched a new subscription model for Payday 2, granting players full access to all 65+ DLCs for the multiplayer heist title. Options include a $4.99 monthly plan or a 6-month prepaid tier at $19.99, offering a 31% cost reduction over recurring monthly payments.

Subscribers who later cancel retain in-game progression data (ranks, currency, items) but lose access to DLC-locked content like missions, gear, and cosmetic items. Reinstating the subscription or buying specific DLCs unlocks these features again.

Meanwhile, the studio sparked backlash by slashing the discount for the Infamous Collection bundle—a complete DLC package—from 52% to 33%. This triggered a wave of negative Steam reviews, with recent ratings plummeting to 54% (versus an 87% lifetime score). Players criticized the move as an underhanded tactic to push subscriptions.

In a statement to Game Developer, Starbreeze’s Commercial Head Gustav Nisser acknowledged the misstep, confirming the Infamous Collection’s discount has been reset to 52% following player complaints.

We failed to align our plans and communicate transparently with our community. The backlash is understandable—the timing and pricing adjustments appeared predatory, and we recognize that. We’ve reversed the bundle discount immediately. The bundle’s dynamic pricing, which accounts for owned content and overlapping sales, complicates its perceived value, and we should’ve anticipated confusion.

With Embracer Group citing disappointing sales for Payday 3, the studio’s reliance on its flagship franchise demands cautious stewardship. Starbreeze’s upcoming title, codenamed Project Baxter, is a live-service co-op game set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, slated for a 2026 release.