The highly anticipated release of Payday 3 has been met with disappointment as its player count hits an all-time low, while its predecessor, Payday 2, experiences a resurgence in popularity.
Payday 2 has surpassed Payday 3 in terms of concurrent players, with over 40,000 players logging on at once this week. In contrast, Payday 3 only managed to attract 4,700 players at its peak. Payday 2’s all-time player peak also overshadows Payday 3 by almost 200,000 players.
This decline in Payday 3’s player base can be attributed to a series of launch issues, including matchmaking errors and glitches. Players faced long queues and server problems, which persisted even after patches were released to address the server issues.
As a result, Payday 3 received negative reviews on Steam, with players criticizing the lack of single-player features and the challenging nature of accessing the multiplayer experience. Although the game’s Steam rating has improved over time, it still stands at a mediocre six out of 10.
On the other hand, Payday 2, despite being over a decade old, continues to attract players. Its enduring popularity provides some consolation for the developers of Payday 3.
| Game | Concurrent Players (Peak) | All-Time Player Peak |
|---|---|---|
| Payday 2 | 40,000+ | Over 200,000 more than Payday 3 |
| Payday 3 | 4,700 | N/A |
Source: DOTESPORTS
