The video game Payday 3, developed by Starbreeze Studios, offers a variety of free cosmetic items and gameplay content for its players. These free offerings are available through official programmes, promotional updates, and special events, allowing players to customise their in-game heisters without additional cost. This article details the methods to acquire these free rewards, the specific items available, and the conditions for eligibility, based solely on the information provided in the source documents.
Free Cosmetic Rewards via Starbreeze Nebula Programme
Players can obtain a series of free cosmetic rewards by signing up for the official Starbreeze Nebula programme. This programme is designed to reward the growing community of players with in-game items as certain membership goals are met. The process to enrol is straightforward and does not require any purchase.
To sign up, players must visit the official Payday 3 website and locate the “Sign up for Nebula” button. Alternatively, a direct link to the account creation page can be used. The sign-up process requires entering an email address and proceeding with the registration. A verification email must then be confirmed. Finally, the gaming platform account that will be used to play Payday 3 must be linked to the Nebula account. Upon completion of these steps, players are enrolled and will automatically receive the free rewards as they become available.
The rewards are distributed in stages, tied to the total number of Nebula members. The current list of free rewards, as of the provided information, includes:
- Coulrophobia mask (Goal 1)
- I $teal NY weapon charm (Goal 2)
- Criminal Selection sticker (Goal 3)
- Yours for the Takin sticker (Goal 4)
- Black Caret mask preconfig (Goal 5)
- I Own NY mask pattern (Goal 6)
The developers have indicated that more in-game items will be added as the number of Nebula members grows. It is important to note that these rewards are purely cosmetic and do not confer any gameplay advantages. To use these free items, a player must own a copy of Payday 3, which can be purchased or accessed via subscription services such as Xbox Game Pass.
Free Gameplay Content and Cosmetics from Major Updates
Starbreeze Studios has released several significant updates for Payday 3 that include free new heists and cosmetic items, available to all owners of the base game.
Diamond District Heist and Associated Free Content
A major update introduced the Diamond District heist, which is available to all players at no additional cost. This heist is described as a quintessential Payday experience, set on a single street with five different locations to rob. Alongside this new heist, the update provided a free secondary weapon, a new laser tripwire gadget, and four new masks for all players.
First World Bank Heist and Cosmetics
Another free heist, First World Bank, was made available to all owners of Payday 3. This heist involves players infiltrating a bank, burning through a floor to access cash, and escaping through a wall to a neighbouring building. The update also introduced extra free cosmetics for all players, including multiple new mask patterns, multiple new weapon skins, and the Teddy Moo outfit and mask.
Anniversary Update: Part 2 Features
The PAYDAY 3 Anniversary Update: Part 2, scheduled for release on October 30, 2024, focuses on free quality-of-life improvements and features to enhance the heisting experience. These free features include:
- Server Browser: A return of the server browser, allowing players to pick games freely with or without filters.
- Cross-platform VoIP and Text Chat: Enhanced communication tools for all platforms.
- UI Update: A revamped user interface.
- Host Kick: The ability for the host to manage their lobby and control who participates in the heist.
- Twitch Drops: The opportunity to watch Payday 3 streams on Twitch to receive in-game cosmetics for free.
- New Masks: The addition of a new Halloween mask and two new Masks of the Week.
Houston Breakout DLC Free Content
The Houston Breakout DLC, a paid expansion, was released alongside a free content update. The free portion of this update included the Diamond District heist, four masks, a secondary weapon, and a new laser tripwire gadget, as detailed previously. The paid Houston Breakout DLC itself includes the titular heist, three weapons, 19 weapon mods, additional masks, gloves, and new suits.
Paid Editions and Their Inclusions
For players seeking the complete first-year experience, Starbreeze offers the PAYDAY 3 Year 1 Edition. This edition is provided for free to those who already own the Gold Edition. It is also available for separate purchase on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X, and PC. The Year 1 Edition includes:
- The base game PAYDAY 3.
- The PAYDAY 3 Year 1 Pass, which contains all four major DLC bundles: Syntax Error, Boys in Blue, Houston Breakout, and Fear & Greed. These bundles introduce new heists, weapons, and cosmetics.
- Several additional cosmetic packs: Preacher pack, Drifter pack, Heavy Hitter pack, and Assassin pack, each containing one outfit and one weapon.
- The Island skin.
- The Dark Sterling Mask.
- The Skull of Liberty Mask and Golden Slate Gloves.
Eligibility and Important Considerations
The free cosmetic rewards from the Starbreeze Nebula programme are available to anyone who signs up and links their gaming platform account. There are no stated geographic restrictions for this programme; it is an online registration process accessible to UK players.
For the free heists and cosmetic items from updates, eligibility is contingent upon owning a copy of Payday 3. The heists are not available as standalone free products but are added to the game for all existing owners. The free cosmetics are automatically granted to all players upon downloading the relevant update.
A key consideration is that while the cosmetic items and heists themselves are free, they are only usable within the purchased game. The source material does not specify any purchase requirements for accessing the free updates, indicating they are downloaded automatically for owners of the game.
The PAYDAY 3 Year 1 Edition is a paid product, though it is free for existing Gold Edition owners. It consolidates all paid and free content from the first year into a single package. The pre-order incentive for the base game, which included the Obsidian Glitz Outfit and Venomous Verdigris Mask, is a separate promotional offer not directly related to the ongoing free reward programmes.
Conclusion
UK players of Payday 3 have multiple avenues to acquire free cosmetic items and new gameplay heists. The primary method for cosmetics is the Starbreeze Nebula programme, which rewards sign-ups with a growing list of masks, stickers, charms, and patterns. Significant free gameplay content, including the Diamond District and First World Bank heists, along with numerous masks, weapons, and gadgets, has been released through major game updates at no extra cost to base game owners. Additional free features, such as a server browser and Twitch Drops, are forthcoming in the Anniversary Update. While the Year 1 Edition offers a comprehensive paid package, the core free offerings are accessible to all players who own the base game, ensuring that the heisting experience can be continually refreshed without further financial investment.