PS Plus Extra Now Has an Inferior Version of Payday 2

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PS Plus Extra Now Has an Inferior Version of Payday 2

Key Takeaways

  • PlayStation Plus Extra adds Payday 2: Crimewave Edition on September 30.
  • Update 1.54 released alongside, removing expired license content for new players.
  • Existing owners of Payday 2: Crimewave Edition will not be affected by the removed content.

As a veteran gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I can’t help but feel a tinge of disappointment upon hearing about the latest update for Payday 2 on PlayStation Plus Extra. Despite being a fan since its release back in 2013, I find myself faced with an inferior version due to the removal of expired licensed content in the Crimewave Edition.

The action-packed game “Payday 2” is now part of PlayStation Plus Extra, however, it seems that the Crimewave Edition included might not live up to expectations. This is because the developers, Overkill Software (now a subsidiary of Starbreeze Studios), have removed certain popular content from the 2013 shooter for new players. Concurrently with “Payday 2″‘s addition to PS Plus Extra, Overkill Software also rolled out update 1.54, which deletes some expired licensed content for newly joining players.

Even though it was initially released in 2013, Payday 2 continues to be the most well-liked game in the series. A successor, named Payday 3, came out in 2023 but received mainly unfavorable reviews as players criticized its progression system, server problems, mandatory online play, and the general feeling that it was a step down compared to the original game. Although the studio is committed to making adjustments based on community input, Payday 3 still has a mixed rating on Steam and only attracts around 1,300 players simultaneously on the platform.

If you’re a fan of the series and have been hesitant about playing Payday 3, here’s some good news: As of September 30, PlayStation Plus Extra subscribers can access the hit prequel, Payday 2, at no additional cost! However, there is a small caveat. The version offered on the service is the Crimewave Edition, which was initially released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2015 with added content and enhanced graphics. Interestingly, this edition received an update (version 1.54) on the same day it joined PS Plus. According to the official patch notes, this update removes expired licensed content from the game, but this adjustment won’t affect those who had previously purchased Payday 2 before the update was implemented.

Payday 2 Update Makes PS Plus Version Inferior

It’s thought that the recent update for Payday 2 might have taken away the John Wick and Point Break DLC packs, which were given out for free in 2014 and 2015 respectively. If this assumption is correct, then those who got Payday 2’s Crimewave Edition through PlayStation Plus will be getting a less feature-rich version of the game compared to those who bought it before the September 30 update, as they would still have access to the previously released DLC.

However, since PlayStation Plus offers the Crimewave Edition, it implies that players will continue to enjoy all other DLC packs of Payday 2 that were previously released. Regarding Xbox Game Pass subscribers, it remains uncertain whether the licensed content will be taken away from those who have already played it via the service, or if this change only applies to new downloads post-patch 1.54.

Payday 2: Crimewave Edition Update 1.54 Patch Notes

  • LICENSED CONTENT
    • Removed expired licensed content (does not affect owners who have purchased PAYDAY 2 prior to this update)
  • CHANGES
    • PS5 compatibility option has been enabled.
    • Removed extra space in ‘PlayStation™ Network’.
    • Added message to inform the player if save data has been corrupted.
    • Removed pulsating white image from the loading screen which was partially covering the controller.

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2024-10-02 13:53