E3 has now come and gone, leaving in its wake a ton of excitement within the gaming community. E3's first appearance in two years debuted its new digital format, due to the impractical nature of a physical event in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. This did little to dampen the mood, however, as a slew of exciting titles were revealed at E3. However, very few announcements got fans more hyped than that of Payday 3, which is now in development.
The Payday franchise's frantic co-op heists are set to make an appearance on the new generation of consoles in what fans hope will be a next-gen upgrade of Payday action. The Payday series offers exaggerated depictions of bank heists for players to work their way through, and isn't particularly renowned for realism. Payday 3 could be the perfect opportunity for Koch Media to change this by trying its hand at a slightly more grounded interpretation. A lot of time has passed since Payday 2 released, offering a solid framework for how robberies can work in video games. None more so than Red Dead Redemption 2.
One of Red Dead Redemption 2's Best Features
A number of gameplay innovations are present in Red Dead Redemption 2, but the game's mask system stands out for its depth and realism. Many gamers thought the system was broken at launch due to the complexity of its design, but it works seamlessly. Masks allow Arthur to avoid detection, but the player must take into account every identifying feature Arthur has before committing a crime. The way this feature works makes masks feel less like magical invisibility and more like accessories they're intended as. Robbing stores in Red Dead Redemption 2 feels a lot more intense thanks to this feature and the stakes become a negotiating act for players to work around.
When Arthur commits a crime, he can avoid detection by wearing his mask, but it isn't that simple. Masks in Red Dead Redemption 2 function in a similar way to how they'd be expected to work in real life. If Arthur hits a store or a bank wearing a mask and flees before the law rolls up, he should be fine, but any variations from this make it a whole lot more complicated. A number of circumstances make the act of robbery more of an artform in Red Dead Redemption 2.
Returning to the site of a crime after a successful masked incident will result in a wanted level for Red Dead Redemption 2's Arthur unless he changes his clothes and his horse. The townspeople don't soon forget the appearance of a criminal in their own backyard, and a mask alone understandably isn't enough to throw them off the scent. There's speculation that something as minor as Arthur's haircut could tip residents off.
Arthur also needs to consider time when committing a robbery in Red Dead Redemption 2, as being spotted by local law enforcement incurs an instant wanted level. The law's increased perception over the average joe means they're able to identify Arthur despite his get-up. Getting in and out of a location is vital to a successful crime.
Payday 3 Should Strive For More Realism
Masks in Payday function as little more than cosmetics to show off to co-op partners. While they serve a purpose, this purpose is shallow and relegated to a novelty feature, while the action aspects of the games take a starring role. Payday 3 could be set to learn from the success of Red Dead Redemption 2's features and improve its own. Payday 2's masks hide the player's identity, but the way in which they do this makes little sense given the realities of the present day.
Payday 3 should borrow one of Red Dead Redemption 2's best features. In Payday 2, the player can walk into a bank without a mask, walk around the building to scope it out, and then put a mask on. But how does the mask then offer the character any protection? They've already been seen walking around the bank wearing the same clothes they're now robbing it in, and with security cameras, their cover should be blown.
Tasking players with completely changing outfits out of view of any cameras would be a good first step towards instilling the world of Payday with some much-needed realism. The current shallow nature of the mask system doesn't cut it in the modern gaming landscape, especially not when systems on the level of Red Dead Redemption 2's exist.
Koch Media's new Payday calls for a modernization of the franchise. The mask system stands as one of the features in great need of an upgrade. The ridiculousness of Payday will likely be as in-demand as ever when it releases on next-gen systems. However, small quality of life improvements could announce Payday's arrival into the next generation with great aplomb.
Payday 3 is currently in development for a possible 2023 release.