PAYDAY 3 Update 3.9: All Heists Free & New Features
PAYDAY 3 is heading into its third anniversary with one of the biggest changes to its content model since launch. Update 3.9 is scheduled for September 2026, and its headline change is simple: all paid heists are being included in the base game.
That means players will no longer need to own individual paid heist DLCs to access those missions. More importantly, Starbreeze says the change also applies to future heists, creating a single pool of heist content for the PAYDAY 3 player base.
The September update is not only about free heists. Starbreeze has also announced a Campaign Mode with a rewritten storyline, Weapon Perks, a Shooting Range, new contracts, enemy improvements, Renown and Crimebond rewards, Shared Weapon Mods, OVERKILL Weapon customization, Sprays and Stickers, Change Emotes, and the Brute Force Crimebond.
For players who have followed PAYDAY 3 since launch, Update 3.9 could therefore be more than another content drop. It changes how the game’s heist content is distributed and is designed to make it easier for players to experience the game’s existing and upcoming missions together.
What Is PAYDAY 3 Update 3.9?
PAYDAY 3 Update 3.9 is the September 2026 anniversary update planned for the game’s third anniversary.
According to Starbreeze’s official roadmap, the update is scheduled for September and includes a large collection of gameplay, progression, customization and quality-of-life features.
The biggest change is the inclusion of all previously paid heist DLCs in the base game. Starbreeze has also confirmed that future heists will follow the same model.
The developer’s stated reason is to unify the player base. Instead of players needing to check which heist DLC their teammates own, everyone will have access to the same heist pool.
The roadmap also lists several other additions, including Campaign Mode, Weapon Perks, Shooting Range, Enemy Improvements, Renown, Crimebond Rewards, Shared Weapon Mods, OVERKILL Weapon Customization, Sprays & Stickers, Change Emotes and new Contracts.
Because the roadmap is described by Starbreeze as provisional and subject to change, players should treat individual details and timing as information that can still be adjusted before the final update release.
All PAYDAY 3 Heists Are Becoming Part of the Base Game
The most important part of Update 3.9 is the change to paid heist content.
Starbreeze announced that all paid heists would become available as part of the PAYDAY 3 base game. This includes both past heists and future heists.
The change affects several previously released heist DLCs, including:
- Syntax Error
- Boys in Blue
- Houston Breakout
- Fear & Greed
- Party Powder
- Delivery Charge
- Shopping Spree
These heists were previously sold as paid DLC content. Starbreeze subsequently announced that the paid heist DLCs would be removed from storefronts, while the heists themselves would become part of the base game through the September update.
This distinction is important because “all heists free” does not mean every PAYDAY 3 DLC item is becoming free.
Weapon Packs, Tailor Packs and Character Packs are separate from the heist DLCs and Starbreeze has stated that those categories are unaffected by the change.
So, if you see the phrase “all PAYDAY 3 DLC is free,” it is worth treating that statement carefully. The confirmed change concerns the game’s heist content.
What Happens If You Already Bought the Heist DLC?
Players who purchased the affected heist DLCs are not simply being left without anything after the content becomes part of the base game.
Starbreeze has announced compensation items for existing owners.
Anyone who owns at least one of the affected paid heist DLCs will receive the S40 “Partisan” pistol variant.
Players will also receive a unique preset mask for each individual heist DLC they own.
There is an additional reward for players who previously owned all seven affected heist DLCs. Those players will receive the “Flame Keeper” preset mask.
This makes the change different from a simple conversion where previously paid content is just opened to everyone. Existing owners receive cosmetic and weapon-related recognition based on the heist DLCs they purchased.
Another important point is that existing owners do not lose access to the content they already purchased.
PAYDAY 3 Campaign Mode Is Coming
Update 3.9 is also introducing Campaign Mode.
Starbreeze has described the Campaign Mode as featuring a completely rewritten storyline. The intention is to give players a more structured way to experience PAYDAY 3 rather than simply selecting individual heists independently.
This is particularly relevant because the campaign is arriving alongside the decision to put all heists into the base game.
The developer has also connected the new Campaign Mode with the updated tutorial that was previously introduced in Update 3.6.
For newer players, this could provide a more natural path through the game’s content: learn the basics, follow the campaign and then explore the wider selection of available heists.
The exact campaign progression, mission order and other details should be checked against the final Update 3.9 patch notes once they are published.
Weapon Perks Will Add Another Layer of Progression
Weapon Perks are another major feature listed for Update 3.9.
The purpose of Weapon Perks is to give players another way to develop and customize their weapon-focused playstyles.
This is particularly relevant for players who already spend time experimenting with different weapons, modifications and builds.
PAYDAY 3 already has weapon customization and progression systems, so Weapon Perks add another potential layer to that system.
However, it is important not to assume specific perk effects before Starbreeze publishes the final details. The announcement confirms Weapon Perks as a feature, but individual perk values, unlock requirements and exact effects should be taken from the final game information rather than guessed in advance.
Shooting Range Is Coming to PAYDAY 3
A Shooting Range is also planned for Update 3.9.
This is one of those features that could be particularly useful for players who want to test their equipment before entering a real heist.
PAYDAY 3 has a wide range of weapons, modifications and build possibilities. A dedicated testing environment can give players a controlled place to become familiar with their equipment.
It should also make it easier for players to understand how a weapon or build behaves before taking it into a difficult mission.
The final functionality of the Shooting Range should become clearer once the complete patch notes are available.
Brute Force Crimebond
Update 3.9 also introduces the Brute Force Crimebond.
Starbreeze’s September 18 announcement describes this Crimebond as being focused on completing jobs quickly and using a more direct approach.
One of the highlighted additions is the OVE9050, a portable saw designed to cut through lockpickable doors, deposit boxes and even cops.
This fits the theme of the Brute Force Crimebond: instead of relying entirely on slower or more subtle approaches, the player can use a tool built around forcing a path through certain obstacles.
The Crimebond is separate from the change that makes heists available in the base game. It is part of the new progression and content being introduced for the anniversary update.
Renown and Crimebond Rewards
Starbreeze’s roadmap also lists Renown and Crimebond Rewards among the features planned for Update 3.9.
These additions are connected to PAYDAY 3’s progression systems and give players more ways to work toward rewards.
The important thing to watch after the update launches will be how these rewards are earned and what activities contribute to progression.
Rather than assuming that every reward will be immediately available or that specific items can be earned through particular activities, players should check the final in-game requirements after Update 3.9 goes live.
Enemy Improvements
Enemy Improvements are another part of the September update.
For a cooperative shooter such as PAYDAY 3, enemy behavior has a direct effect on the overall experience. Changes to enemy behavior can influence stealth situations, firefights, positioning and the pressure placed on the crew during a heist.
Starbreeze has previously continued to make changes to enemy behavior and AI across its updates.
The September roadmap identifies Enemy Improvements as part of Update 3.9, but the precise changes should be judged from the final patch notes rather than from assumptions about how individual enemy types will behave.
Shared Weapon Mods
Another feature listed for the update is Shared Weapon Mods.
This is an important quality-of-life change for players who spend time customizing multiple weapons.
The idea is to improve how weapon modifications can be used across the weapon system rather than making customization unnecessarily restrictive.
Because weapon builds can become increasingly complicated as more weapons and modifications are introduced, changes to how mods are shared can have a practical effect on loadout management.
The final implementation and restrictions will be important, so players should look at the official 3.9 changelog for the exact rules.
OVERKILL Weapon Customization
Update 3.9 is also scheduled to introduce OVERKILL Weapon Customization.
OVERKILL Weapons are powerful pieces of equipment in PAYDAY 3, and additional customization gives players another way to personalize their loadouts.
This is particularly relevant for players who want more control over how their equipment looks and functions.
As with Weapon Perks, the announcement confirms the feature but does not justify inventing specific customization statistics or claiming particular performance benefits before the final update information is available.
Sprays, Stickers and Change Emotes
Not every part of Update 3.9 is focused on combat.
The roadmap also lists Sprays & Stickers and Change Emotes.
These additions give players more options for personalization and expression.
For a cooperative game, cosmetic customization can be a small feature individually but still contribute to how players distinguish their characters and interact with teammates.
The update therefore combines major systems such as Campaign Mode and Weapon Perks with smaller customization features.
New Contracts
New Contracts are also planned for Update 3.9.
Contracts are an important part of the PAYDAY structure because they provide another way for players to approach available missions and objectives.
The September update continues Starbreeze’s pattern of adding new contracts alongside larger gameplay changes.
The exact number and details of the new contracts should be confirmed through the final Update 3.9 changelog.
What Happened to the Paid Heist DLC?
The change to heists also explains why the paid heist DLCs were removed from storefronts.
Starbreeze announced that the affected paid heist DLCs would be delisted from storefronts on August 25, 2026.
That included the individual heist DLCs and several bundles containing them.
Importantly, delisting does not mean existing owners lose their purchased content. Starbreeze specifically stated that existing owners would retain access.
The Weapon Pack, Tailor Pack and Character Pack DLC categories were also explicitly described as unaffected.
This is why players should distinguish between “heist DLC” and “all DLC” when discussing Update 3.9.
PAYDAY 3 Update 3.8 Set the Stage for 3.9
The September changes come shortly after PAYDAY 3 Update 3.8.
Update 3.8 introduced the game’s move to Unreal Engine 5 and included a Cook Off rework and new contracts.
The Unreal Engine 5 upgrade also reduced the game’s reported storage requirement from approximately 65 GB to around 45 GB.
That August update was therefore a significant technical change before the anniversary update moved the focus toward content access, progression and gameplay systems.
Players should also remember that PAYDAY 3 received a 3.8.1 hotfix after the initial 3.8 release to address several issues.
This recent history is relevant because major game updates can sometimes require additional hotfixes after release.
Is PAYDAY 3 Update 3.9 Free?
The answer depends on what “free” means.
The newly announced change means that the previously paid heists will be included in the PAYDAY 3 base game at no additional charge.
It does not mean that every paid PAYDAY 3 DLC category has been made free.
Weapon Packs, Tailor Packs and Character Packs remain separate categories and were not included in the heist change announced by Starbreeze.
So the most accurate description is:
All PAYDAY 3 heists are being made part of the base game, including future heists, while other DLC categories remain separate.
When Is PAYDAY 3 Update 3.9 Releasing?
Starbreeze’s official roadmap places Update 3.9 in September 2026 as part of the game’s third-anniversary update.
The roadmap is described as provisional and subject to change, so players should rely on the final official announcement and patch notes for the exact release timing.
At the time of writing, it would be inaccurate to invent a specific launch hour unless Starbreeze officially provides one.
The same applies to download size, maintenance duration and platform-specific rollout times.
What This Means for New Players
For someone starting PAYDAY 3 now, the biggest practical change is access to the game’s heist library.
Previously, players had to pay attention to which heist DLCs they or their friends owned.
With the September change, Starbreeze’s stated goal is to give the player base the same access to past and future heists.
That can make cooperative play simpler.
A player who owns the base game should not have to ask whether a teammate owns a particular paid heist before deciding what to play.
The Campaign Mode could also give newcomers a more structured starting point.
Instead of immediately jumping between individual missions, new players will have a campaign-focused way to experience the game.
Final Takeaway
PAYDAY 3 Update 3.9 is shaping up to be a significant anniversary update because it changes both the content available to players and the way that content is organized.
The biggest headline is the move of all paid heists into the base game. This includes previously released heists and future heists, according to Starbreeze.
Existing owners are also receiving recognition through the S40 Partisan pistol variant and preset masks tied to the heist DLCs they owned, with the Flame Keeper mask reserved for players who owned all seven affected heist DLCs.
Beyond the heist change, Update 3.9 adds Campaign Mode, Weapon Perks, a Shooting Range, Enemy Improvements, Renown, Crimebond Rewards, Shared Weapon Mods, OVERKILL Weapon Customization, Sprays & Stickers, Change Emotes and new Contracts.
The Brute Force Crimebond is another notable addition, bringing the OVE9050 portable saw and a more direct approach to certain obstacles.
For players returning to PAYDAY 3, the September update gives them a reason to look again at the game’s growing library of heists. For new players, the combination of wider heist access and Campaign Mode could provide a simpler route into the game.
The important thing is to separate confirmed information from speculation. Starbreeze has announced the major direction and feature list, but the final Update 3.9 patch notes remain the best source for exact mechanics, numbers, unlock requirements and release details.
As Update 3.9 arrives, those final details will determine exactly how these systems work in the live version of PAYDAY 3.