Payday 3 devs interviewed actual bank robbers to gain insights into what’s it’s like being an outlaw criminal.
Sometimes to achieve ultimate authenticity, one needs to delve deep inside the minds of those that have lived the story you wish to depict.
Payday 3 devs didn’t commit crimes in order to conduct research for their game, but rather spoke with real life robbers instead. We recently experienced Payday 3 first hand and spoke to its global brand director Almir Listo about what went into crafting it.
Payday 3’s developers took an unprecedented approach when crafting its experience: speaking directly with real bank robbers who can put themselves into their characters’ heads and help create an authentic experience. We asked Listo about this step of creating such an immersive story; he answered in full by noting “one of our characters is actually [former] bank robber. We definitely spent time talking to various individuals involved with both sides of law”.
Listo went on to describe how developers visited the L. A Police Department to gain more insights on staying within the law; specifically how the LAPD would respond and deal with criminals of heist variety. “All those experiences help make Payday into an immersive fantasy and satisfying experience – that’s what it’s about!” said Listo, emphasizing how varied insights have helped shape what the Payday series stands for.
Payday 3 raises the stakes on every front, from running away with large sums of Benjamins in your duffel bag while intense music vibrates your ears to running into banks full of them armed only with your money (in-game, of course…).” In our preview of Payday 3, we noted its ability to raise them. We stated this fact by noting how its “rise in every way imaginable”.
Almir Listo mentioned his dream Payday 3 collaborations as John McClane from Die Hard and Batman himself being his top choices.
Overkill Software and Starbreeze Studios’ Payday 3 will be released for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on 21 September 2023 with cross-play support across platforms as well as Xbox Game Pass support from day one.
