Is Payday 2 Crossplay in 2024?

Payday 2 is a cooperative first-person shooter video game developed by Overkill Software and published by 505 Games. Over the years, the Payday franchise has amassed over 35 million players. Since Payday 2 is so popular, you might want to play it with friends. However, can you go on heists in Payday 2 with friends using a console, switch, or a PC?  

In this blog,  you will discover if Payday 2 has crossplay, cross-progression, or cross-generation features.

Is Payday 2 Crossplay?

Payday 2 is not crossplay in 2024. In fact, seeing as Payday 3 was released in September of 2024, neither Overkill Software nor Starbreeze Studios have announced any plans to make Payday 2 crossplay in 10 years. And so there are no immediate plans to add a crossplay feature in Payday 2.

Does Payday 2 Support Cross-Platform Between PlayStation and PC?

Payday 2 players on PC can’t game with their PS4 and PS5 friends. Actually, Steam PC players are on Steam servers, not PlayStation ones. Since the players cannot digitally meet, they cannot go on heists together.

Is Payday 2 Cross-Platform Between PC and Xbox?

Regrettably, Xbox players cannot go on heists with PC players in Payday 2. This might be a surprise since some PCs run on Microsoft software, and Microsoft owns Xbox. However, Payday 2 players on PCs are on Steam servers, not Xbox servers. This challenge might be one of the reasons why cross-play between the two platforms is not available.

Can You Play Payday 2 Between PlayStation and Xbox?

Unfortunately, players on PlayStation 4 and 5 cannot join those on Xbox. This is because their consoles are not compatible. In fact, Microsoft and Nintendo typically don’t allow crossplay with each other’s consoles. This might be because of the anti-competitive financial incentive they have. That means, if they don’t allow compatibility, players must buy one console from both instead of picking what they consider the best console.

Is Payday 2 Cross-Platform Between Nintendo Switch and PC?

Alas, PC players can’t play Payday 2 with Nintendo Switch players. Why can’t you game with your PC friends when you’re on a Nintendo Switch? The reason might be because of the visuals. Nintendo Switch screens are much smaller than PC screens. Therefore, visual detail is different between the two platforms. To harmonize the two platforms, compromises in visuals might be necessary, which might be a drawback for PC players.

Is Payday 2 Cross-Generation Between Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S?

Surprisingly, yes, you can actually play with your friends using the Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S. Microsoft has allowed for Payday 2 cross-generational play. This might be because these are all their consoles, so there is no direct competition. Actually, there could be a financial benefit as their customers get a range of choices in consoles within the same brand.

Is Payday 2 Cross-Platform Between PC and Phone?

Sadly, Payday 2 is not available on mobile. And so, PC gamers can’t play with mobile players. Even if Payday 2 was available on mobile, Payday 2 crossplay would be difficult. This is because mobile controls, screens, and the processing capacity are different from a PC. This leads to a different gaming experience that unbalances the game. Actually, this can ruin the gaming experience since some gamers might get the advantage of a quick mouse while other gamers would not have access to one.

Is Payday 2 Cross-Progression?

Thankfully, Payday 2 has cross-progression. However, this is only on certain platforms. Specifically, Payday 2 has cross-progression through Steam. The computers that have this feature run on:

• Windows
• Linux
• Mac

Why Players Want Crossplay Games

Crossplay has some disadvantages and even some technical difficulties to implement, as stated above. However, many gamers want this feature. Why is that?

1. More Players

When players on all different hardware can play together, you get a larger pool of players. This is great if a game has few players on some platforms. Additionally, it can benefit players in geo-locked servers. And when your player pool is more extensive, you can make new gaming friends. Also, you can easily find skilled, veteran players.

2. Greater Control

Basically, crossplay gives you greater control both in the game and in the choice of hardware. For example, PCs give greater control than consoles when it comes to quick reflexes. And so if you want to use your PC instead of your console, you can easily switch and have greater accuracy. You can use the console Even if you prefer it because of its mechanics. 

3. Reduced Wait Time

Sometimes, getting matched up with a team can take a while. This might be because a few gamers are on the same console on the server. This is where crossplay comes in. With crossplay, it takes less time to get matched up since there are more players to choose from. And so, the game matches you more quickly. This is especially beneficial for those using hardware that is unpopular with a game and who normally have to wait a long time for match ups.

In Conclusion

Even after 10 years since the game launch, Payday 2 crossplay is not yet available. Gamers on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and PC cannot play with gamers outside using another platform. This is despite players wanting crossplay to have more control or to get a wider pool of players to game with. That said, some cross-generational play is allowed with Xbox: One, Series X, and Series S. As for cross-progression, it is only available through Steam. 

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