PAYDAY 3 Update 2.5 introduces Skills 2.0 and a wide balance pass

PAYDAY 3’s Update 2.5 is live and brings a headline feature called Skills 2.0 as a free overhaul of the game’s progression and build system. The new system replaces the old EDGE, GRIT and RUSH buffs with a classic tree format and a maximum of 51 points that are fully unlocked at infamy level 150, while the patch also ships a host of gameplay fixes, weapon balance adjustments and technical improvements. Players who want a quick look at the new skill layout can try the developer’s Skill Simulator on the PAYDAY site and the patch notes include an embedded trailer that can be seen below.

Update 2.5 also changes a few basic controls and interactions, the default mask-up key now uses the shoot button to avoid accidental grenade throws when going loud, and players can now throw bags at enemies to stagger them. Balance is broad and explicit. The patch adjusts damage for many weapons with separate close, medium, and far values, and shotgun damage is now listed in pellets times damage per pellet. The notes call out the Justicar as currently bugged for damage behavior and flag a number of other issues that could affect builds and playstyles.

Steam players should also note a mod compatibility warning: older versions of the PD3 Logic Mod prevent the new skills from functioning correctly, and the developers recommend updating the mod to its latest release. Console PC Gaming previously wrote about the smaller stability and HUD fixes in Update 2.4, which addressed bag indicators and other Delivery Charge quirks, and those fixes remain relevant as the team retools skills and weapon numbers; see our write-up of Update 2.4’s bag and HUD fixes for context.

Patch Notes – PAYDAY 3 – Update 2.5

New Feature – Skills 2.0

• FREE update that completely overhauls the skill system
• Completely replaces the old system
• Removes EDGE/GRIT/RUSH buffs
• New format, classic “tree” shape
• 51 maximum points, fully unlocked at infamy level 150
• There is a Skill Simulator on the developer website

Known Issues

• Using an old version of the “PD3 Logic Mod” by Narknon and HW12Dev will prevent the new skills from functioning properly. There’s already an update to the mod, so downloading the latest version will prevent the issue
• Aced ‘On the Run’ skill in the “Ghost” tree can cause players to lose their reload ability when doing multiple inputs at the same time
• Stealth music doesn’t properly switch between stages in Delivery Charge. Note: Normally, heist music escalates as you progress through the heist, that is what currently isn’t working correctly
• The ‘Mechanic’ skill in the “Shotgun” tree only provides its damage reduction during reload and not for 1 second after as stated
• Headshots against armor do not currently provide a damage multiplier. While the current version of the game is balanced with that in mind, a fix is coming as part of larger changes to armor and HP later down the line
• Shotgun damage is displayed as the full maximum possible damage if all pellets hit, instead of the standard “nr of pellets x damage”
• The Justicar does less damage when within 2 meters (~6.5 feet) instead of more
• The bonus from the Mercenary armor frame — damage immunity for 2 seconds after a plate breaks — currently applies to all armor frames

Features

• New Skill System
  • Completely replaces the old system
  • Removes EDGE/GRIT/RUSH buffs
  • New format, classic “tree” shape
  • 51 maximum points, fully unlocked at infamy level 150
  • There’s a Skill Simulator on the PAYDAY website
• Players can now throw bags at enemies to make them stagger
• The default ‘mask up’ key has been changed from the grenade button to the shoot button to prevent accidental grenade discharges caused by going loud
• Fixed a bug where Achievements & Challenges were not being tracked or completed

Gameplay

• Player won’t get stuck if running into vault doors that still have the drill attached
• Interceptor no longer permanently blocks radios from activating on intimidated guards
• Fixed an issue where being tased when throwing a knife, blocked the ability to throw for the rest of the heist
• The Interceptor Overkill weapon will now appear as locked when joining a loud game as a drop-in player
• Fixed an issue where the Techie’s drones would stop spawning
• Updated text on Daily Challenge to clarify that “Secure a total of 30 loot bags” only counts the ones secured personally by the player
• Completing 3 Daily Challenges in one heist will now award the correct amount of C stacks
• Fixed bug when QR codes were not synced after a player leaves and rejoins

Technical Changes

• Fixed a rare cloth simulation crash when starting as Dallas, and switching preferred characters
• Updated the XeSS version from 2.0.2 to 2.1.1.1
• Dropped Overkill weapons are now easier to pick up
• Steam players will no longer crash the game when enabling crossplay setting during a party session

Art

• Added flying money bills VFX when picking up and throwing certain loot bags
• Chains will no longer clip through his short sleeves when performing a melee attack

Audio

• Fixed a rare issue where background audio at the waterfront wouldn’t play all the ambience

Heist Changes

General

• Helicopters no longer pitch forward when in hover

Touch the Sky

• Fixed an issue where players would spawn crouched

Delivery Charge

• Fixed an issue where adding favours could spawn more than 2 Wixia containers
• Removed clipping from a police van
• Added additional QR phones on lower difficulties, two extra when playing Normal and Hard, one extra when playing Very Hard

Weapon Balance Changes

We have adjusted the damage of many of the weapons to balance them alongside the new skill system. Close/Medium/Far: Damage dependent on distance from target.

If you have thoughts on how Skills 2.0 plays out or spot further oddities, leave a comment and follow our coverage on X, Bluesky, and YouTube.

Payday 3

Developed by Starbreeze Studios

Payday 3 is the much anticipated sequel to one of the most popular co-op shooters ever. Since its release, Payday-players have been reveling in the thrill of a perfectly planned and executed heist. That’s what makes Payday a high-octane, co-op FPS experience without equal. Step out of retirement back into the life of crime in the shoes of the Payday Gang, the envy of their peers and the nightmare of law-enforcement wherever they go. Several years after the crew’s reign of terror over Washington DC has ended, they assemble once again to deal with the threat that roused them out of early retirement.

• Genre: Shooter
• Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5
• Modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
• Release: 2023-09-21
• Publisher: Prime Matter, PLAION
• Age Rating: CERO Z / CLASS_IND 18 / USK 18 / ESRB M / ACB MA 15+ / PEGI 18 / GRAC 19+
• IGDB Rating: 64.6/100

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