PAYDAY 2 Is Getting a Massive Engine Upgrade With Better Performance and a Much Smaller File Size

More than a decade after its original release, PAYDAY 2 is receiving one of the biggest technical updates in its history. Developer Sidetrack Games has announced a major engine overhaul that promises significantly better performance, faster loading times, and a dramatically reduced installation size. The update will first arrive through an open beta starting June 30, giving players an opportunity to test the improvements before the full rollout.

The upcoming update introduces Diesel 3.0, bringing the game from a 32-bit architecture to 64-bit support. This long-requested change is expected to eliminate many of the memory-related crashes that have affected PAYDAY 2 for years, especially during lengthy heists and when using large mod collections. In addition, the game will move from DirectX 9 to DirectX 11, allowing for more efficient VRAM usage and smoother performance on modern hardware. While the visual quality will remain largely unchanged, players should notice a more stable experience across a wide range of PC configurations.

Another major improvement is the game's storage footprint. The installation size will shrink from roughly 86 GB to around 32 GB, making PAYDAY 2 much easier to install on SSDs and systems with limited storage. Developers have also confirmed faster loading times, shorter six-character lobby codes, and several under-the-hood optimizations designed to improve overall responsiveness.

The transition won't be entirely seamless, however. Because of the extensive engine changes, many community-created mods are expected to stop working until they are updated. To help ease the process, Sidetrack Games will keep the beta available through the end of July and provide documentation to assist mod creators with adapting their projects to the new engine. For longtime fans, the update represents a significant modernization of one of the most popular co-op shooters ever released, ensuring PAYDAY 2 remains relevant for years to come.