"Was wise not to pre-order" - Payday 3 fans upset as game implements Denuvo, will be online-only

Payday 3, the highly anticipated third mainline installment in Overkill Software and Starbreeze Studios' popular co-op shooter franchise, will be out in roughly a month's time. And with the game's looming release date, publisher Deep Silver has finally revealed key information regarding the game's PC port, which apparently will include Denuvo anti-tamper.

With the inclusion of Denuvo, Overkill Software and Starbreeze Studios has also confirmed that the game will be strictly online-only. The game will require players to stay connected to the Payday servers, not only for the multiplayer modes, but also for the game's single-player aspect.

Apart from the online-only DRM, the Steam store page for Payday 3 also notes the mandatory requirement of a "Starbreeze Nebula" account to play the game. Suffice to say, PC players aren't particularly happy with the inclusion of DRM in Overkill and Starbreeze's upcoming title, something that was not present in previous installments of the series.

On Reddit, many players have expressed their frustration with the constant push for online-only DRM in PC games by major publishers. Many who planned to get the game on day one withheld their pre-orders.

Players express frustration with Payday 3's inclusion of Denuvo anti-tamper and online-only DRM

Payday 3 isn't the only game that, despite featuring a robust single-player mode, requires players to stay connected to the internet at all times. The recently released Arkane Studios title, Redfall, which was panned by critics and players alike for its buggy AI, bland open world, and overall uninspired game design, also featured Denuvo and online-only DRM in its PC version.

Although Arkane Studios did promise to try and remove the online-only requirement of the game, Redfall still isn't playable offline, despite being a single-player narrative-driven game. Mandatory requirement of online connectivity is understandable for a strictly multiplayer experience.

However, for co-op games that also feature a robust single-player mode like Payday 3, having a online-only DRM on top of the resource hogging Denuvo anti-tamper does not make much sense.

As such, implementing these restrictions in a game is bound to attract criticism from the player base.

Having an online-only DRM alongside Denuvo will also negatively impact the game's modding scene, something that has been keeping the original games in the series alive for so long.

It remains to be seen how Denuvo and the online-only DRM's implementation affects Payday 3's overall sales and player reception, when it releases on September 21, 2023 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

About the author

Suman is an Esports and Gaming writer at Sportskeeda and specializes in game reviews, with his area of expertise being action-RPG and soulslike games. With over 50 reviews under his belt, he is a key writer on Sportskeeda’s game review team.

Suman’s deep-rooted knowledge of video games, cultivated over decades of gaming experience, significantly contributes to the quality of his journalism. He dedicates time to thoroughly play and research the games he covers, ensuring a captivating reading experience. Drawing inspiration from renowned gaming journalists like Paul Tassi, Jason Schrier, and also Second Wind's Yahtzee, Suman aspires to excel in his career.

His gaming journey began during childhood, with Super Mario Bros 2 on the NES being his first game. Two decades later, he remains a passionate gamer, favoring solo games on the PC and PS5. While he usually plays one game at a time, he feels the pull to revisit titles like Elden Ring or Armored Core 6.

Outside of gaming, Suman finds solace in the realm of music. Delighting in his favorite video game OSTs, as well as EDM and metal tracks, he unwinds and enjoys his free time. Additionally, he takes pleasure in building PCs as a hobby.

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