Despite high hopes, Payday 3’s journey since its release in late September has been rocky. Embracer Group, the game’s publisher, along with the development team at Starbreeze, have faced a series of hurdles that continue to affect the game’s success and player experience.
The game’s debut was quickly overshadowed by significant server issues, largely due to problems with external matchmaking software. This technical snag not only dampened the initial excitement but also led to a wave of frustration among the players. Adding to these woes, the much-needed first update of the game was delayed, arriving only in early November instead of the planned early October.
During Embracer Group’s second-quarter earnings Q&A, CEO Lars Wingefors commented on the game’s performance, noting that it was “a bit weaker than expected.” The game did manage to recover its investments in the quarter, but it didn’t meet the management’s overall expectations in terms of player engagement and financial return.
Starbreeze has been working diligently to rectify these issues, focusing on enhancing the game’s stability and overall playability. The late arrival of the first update, although delayed, marked a significant step towards stabilizing the game. The update addressed many of the initial bugs and performance issues, much to the relief of its player base.
