Payday 2 is getting microtransactions that can bring gameplay benefits

Overkill, the developer of the multiplayer shooter Payday 2, has added weapon skins to its game that potentially lead to a stat boost for the weapon. To get the skins, players have to pay money.

The skins are part of the Black Market Update for the game. Players can have a safe delivered to their home base after a successful mission. This vault contains a skin for a weapon that gives it a different appearance. However, the effects of such a skin are not just cosmetic. “Skins can also improve a weapon’s stats by, for example, allowing for easier handling. Some skins come with modifications that further improve the stats. Finally, a skin can contain a rare stat booster, which gives you that extra advantage,” says Overkill.

The safes can only be opened with a specially designed drill. There are two different types of safes and drills that can be purchased from the Steam Market. Overkill does not say that these drills can be obtained in any other way. At the time of writing, the two drills both cost around 2.50 euros each.

This creates a situation where a player who is willing and able to spend more money on the game than others basically has a gameplay advantage that other players may not be able to get. This is also known as a ‘pay to win’ situation. In addition, Payday 2 producer Almir Listo stated in 2013 that “the game will never contain microtransactions. And shame on you if you doubted that.”