Payday 3 Gameplay Trailer Reveals September Release Date

The release date for Payday 3, and the first extensive look at gameplay, were revealed at the Xbox Showcase. It advertised some high-octane thieving action, the sequel's take on the franchise's clown masks, and many of the game's new locations.

The trailer showed off abilities both old and new in a multiple, multi-tiered urban maps. It broadly follows the escalation of a level in Payday, with a mysterious shadowy figure describing the plan, the robbers donning their masks in the bank lobby, then raiding the vault as waves of police attempt to stop them. While Payday generally can have a stealthy character, this footage was decidedly focused on the action side of things.

As in previous Payday games, player characters can order NPCs to stand down, remotely disable security equipment, and directly take hostages. The trailer displayed more offensive abilities, like deploying a machine gun turret, tagging enemies with a holographic sight, blowing holes in the floor to descend levels, and unleashing electrical traps on teams of police. The capabilities of police foes were also demonstrated, including SWAT teams and massive grenade-launching, armored officers.

Payday 3 will release on September 21 on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5, and PC. You can play it day one on Xbox Game Pass.