Get ready to dive into the chaos of Payday 3 early! The open beta kicks off on September 8, 2023, letting PC and Xbox Series X|S players team up as the original four heisters for a high-stakes bank robbery in “No Rest for the Wicked.” This limited-time event runs until September 11 and is designed to stress test the servers before the game’s full launch on September 21. No keys or special access required-just jump in and help break the servers with stealth or all-out gunfire.
Here’s how to access the Payday 3 open beta onXbox and PC, including start and end times. While Payday 3 is coming out on PlayStation 5, you can only play the open beta on Xbox and PC.
Payday 3 open beta start time: When does the Payday 3 open beta begin?
The Payday 3 open beta officially begins on September 8, 2023, and runs through September 11, 2023. This technical open beta is available on PC and Xbox Series X|S platforms and aims to stress test the game’s servers ahead of the full release on September 21. Players can participate without needing a key, accessing the beta through the Xbox Insider Hub App or the Payday 3 Steam page. The beta features one heist, “No Rest for the Wicked,” with the original four heisters-Dallas, Hoxton, Chains, and Wolf-playable, and all difficulty levels available. Progress made during the beta will not carry over to the full game.
Payday 3’s open beta begins on Friday, Sept. 8, at the following times:
- 7 a.m. PDT for the west coast of North America
- 10 a.m. EDT for the east coast of North America
- 4 p.m. CEST for western Europe/Paris
- 3 p.m. BST for the U.K.
- 11 p.m. JST in Japan/Tokyo
As with all betas, don’t be surprised if there are any queues and server issues when trying to matchmake and play. Though there are two designated “server slam” periods intended to really put the game through its paces (see later on this page for times and dates of those), it’s possible you might see some wobbles throughout – but remember you have all weekend to play if you’re having trouble.
When does the Payday 3 open beta end?
The Payday 3 open beta ends on September 11, 2023, at 1 AM PT / 4 AM ET / 9 AM BST. This technical open beta runs from September 8 to September 11 and is designed to stress test the servers before the game’s official launch on September 21, 2023. Players can access the beta on PC and Xbox without a key, but progress made during the beta will not carry over to the full release.
If you’re planning how much time you’ll have with the beta, it ends on Monday, Sept. 11, at the following times:
- 1 a.m. PDT for the west coast of North America
- 4 a.m. EDT for the east coast of North America
- 10 a.m. CEST for western Europe/Paris
- 9 a.m. BST for the U.K.
- 5 p.m. JST in Japan/Tokyo
In short, for those in the Americas and Europe, it’ll conclude Monday morning – meaning you realistically have Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to play.
How to access Payday 3’s open beta on Xbox and PC
To access Payday 3’s open beta on Xbox Series X|S, players need to download and open the Xbox Insider Hub app, navigate to the Previews section, and select Payday 3 to join the beta. On PC, players should log in to Steam, visit the Payday 3 store page, and click on “Request access” to participate. The beta runs from September 8 to 11, 2023, allowing players to try out the “No Rest for the Wicked” heist with the original four heisters and test the game’s servers ahead of the full release on September 21.
Unlike the previous beta, Payday 3’s open beta is available to access for all players – meaning no pre-order, sign-ups or keys are necessary.
Here’s how you get started:
- To access Payday 3 on PC, visit the Payday 3 store page on Steam, and click ’Request Access’, where the game will appear in your library shortly afterwards.
- To access Payday 3 on Xbox, download the Xbox Insider app, then visit the previews area and select Payday 3.
Note downloadswill only appear once the beta is live – meaning there is no pre-load for either platform. Additionally, there’s the suggestion Xbox access might be limited on a “first come first serve” basis – so if you’re keen to play on console, be sure to start downloading sooner than later.
What is the Payday 3’s ’server slam’ and when does it begin?
The Payday 3 “server slam” is a special event during the game’s open beta designed to stress test the servers by having as many players as possible start matchmaking simultaneously. This helps the developers evaluate server stability under heavy load, though it may also lead to increased lag and disconnects during these peak times. The server slam events are scheduled for Saturday, September 9, 2023, at 12 AM BST (Friday, September 8, 4 PM PT) and Sunday, September 10, 2023, at 5 PM BST (9 AM PT).
As well as the period of general access, there are two times developer Starbreeze is encouraging players to log on and matchmake all at once (“this is the one time we ask you to help destroy our stuff, so please, take the opportunity!”).
These take place on the Friday at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT / midnight BST on the Saturday, and on the Sunday at T / 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT / 5 p.m. BST.
There’s seemingly no reward for doing so, but if you’re keen to try and break the game, join in!
What’s featured in the Payday 3 open beta?
The Payday 3 open beta features one heist called “No Rest for the Wicked,” where players can choose to approach the bank robbery stealthily or with guns blazing. Players can select from the original four heisters: Dallas, Hoxton, Chains, and Wolf, each with unique skills. The beta includes all difficulty levels and allows progression up to Infamy Level 22 and Weapon Level 8, though no progress will carry over to the full game. This beta is based on an older version of the game from April 2023 and primarily serves to stress test the servers, so players should expect possible lag and disconnects during the test period.
The Payday 3 open beta contains the following:
- One heist
- Four heisters
- “Most, but not all, weaponry and cosmetics”
- Infamy level cap of 22
Other things to know about the beta test include:
- Starbreeze says the build is the same as April’s beta test, and since then, the full game itself has seen “a significant number of improvements in terms of performance, gameplay features, game balance, UI and quality” – so expect to see some changes and differences when the game arrives on Sept. 21.
- A tutorial is not available in this beta build – but expect one from the full game.
- Progress from the beta will not carry over to the full game, nor are there seemingly any rewards for participating in the beta.
- There are a few known issues in the beta build, such as friends occasionally not showing up on friends lists, weapon prices possibly deducting a different amount from your in-game inventory, and on Xbox, some lighting errors.
- You are free to capture and stream the open beta.
When does the Payday 3 open beta officially start and how can I join it
The Payday 3 open beta officially starts on September 8, 2023, and runs until September 11, 2023. It is a technical open beta designed to stress test the servers ahead of the full game launch on September 21, 2023.
To join the open beta, players on PC (via Steam) and Xbox Series X|S can access it without needing a key or special invitation. Simply download the beta from the Steam Store page or the Xbox Insider Hub app to participate. The beta features the original four heisters-Dallas, Hoxton, Chains, and Wolf-and includes the “No Rest for the Wicked” bank heist with all difficulty levels available. Progress in the beta will not carry over to the full game.
How can I join the Payday 3 open beta on Steam or Xbox Insider Hub
To join the Payday 3 open beta on Steam, log into your Steam account, go to the Payday 3 store page, and select the option to “Request access” for the beta. After requesting access, you may need to wait for confirmation or notification to participate.
For Xbox Series X|S players, open the Xbox Insider Hub app on your console, navigate to the Previews section, find Payday 3, and select “Join.” Accept the terms and conditions, then wait for the registration to complete. Once done, you will be directed to the store to download and install the beta.
No special keys are required for the open beta, but note that availability might depend on timing and server capacity. The open beta runs from September 8 to September 11, 2023.
