Payday 3, the latest installment of the heist-themed video game series, is grappling with numerous launch challenges. These include long waiting queues for players, even those who wish to play alone. In an attempt to address these issues, Starbreeze, the game’s developer, has decided to take Payday 3 offline intermittently to work on its infrastructure. Specifically, the game will be offline on Tuesday 26th and Friday 28th September between 8 AM and 11 AM CEST.

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Server and Matchmaking Upgrades

Starbreeze's announcement comes in the wake of several complaints from players. The developers informed the community via a social media post that read, "In order to improve server and matchmaking stability, we will make upgrades to the environment ahead of this weekend." They also thanked the community for their patience and requested their understanding during the downtime.

Root Causes of the Issue

In a more extensive statement on their official website, Starbreeze attributed the issues to an unnamed third-party partner responsible for matchmaking. According to them, the software encountered an error that it couldn't manage, particularly when a large number of players tried to access the game. This resulted in what Starbreeze calls an "unrecoverable situation."

Subsequent to this issue, a software update was deployed to all regions, which did bring about some improvements. However, the third-party partner introduced another update that once again led to instability.

Future Plans for Payday 3

The developers are actively working on both short-term and long-term solutions to these problems. Their immediate focus is on ensuring a better player experience by stabilizing the online systems. For the long-term, Starbreeze is considering replacing their third-party matchmaking partner and working on reducing the game’s dependence on online services.

CEO's Statement

Starbreeze CEO, Tobias Sjögren, took a confident stance despite the tumultuous launch. In his statement, he maintained that they are confident in the core product. "We have a lot of diligent and consistent work ahead of us to regain community trust, but we will work hard to do it," Sjögren remarked.

Reviews and Community Feedback

While the company works on these issues, reviews from critics and players continue to roll in. Alice Bee’s review of Payday 3 pointed out problems not only with matchmaking but also with a skill gating system that is less welcoming for new players. Despite these issues, she found the overall package to be enjoyable.

Conclusion

As things stand, it’s evident that Payday 3 is going through a turbulent phase following its launch. Starbreeze is keen on setting things right and has already taken steps towards it by going offline temporarily for essential upgrades. These issues have been a significant setback, but the developers seem committed to ensuring a better experience for their players in both the short and long run.

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https://news.thebadgamer.in/news/payday-3-goes-offline-for-upgrades-starbreezes-strategy-to-reduce-online-dependency/