The upcoming overhaul of Payday 2 changes how players interact with the game on modern systems. Sidetrack Games is replacing the aging engine to fix long-standing technical limits that hinder performance. This shift matters because it removes the 4GB memory cap and cuts the file size by more than half. Users with older hardware or limited storage will see immediate benefits from these changes.
Sidetrack Games overhaul cuts file size and boosts stability
The studio is rebuilding the game around the Diesel 3.0 engine. This new foundation switches the graphics backend from DirectX 9 to DirectX 11. The move also upgrades the entire application to a 64-bit architecture. These technical adjustments allow the game to utilize system resources more efficiently than before.
The most visible change is the drastic reduction in installation size. The update shrinks the required storage from 86GB down to 32GB. Sidetrack Games stated that this change allows players to finally move the game to their SSDs. The studio also reduced VRAM usage to help lower-end hardware run the title more smoothly.
Sidetrack Games explained that the rewrite involves massive backend changes that may not be immediately obvious. The studio noted that while many updates are internal, players can look forward to significant improvements. An open beta for Steam users begins on June 30, 2026. This early access period will let the community test the new stability and compatibility features.
The studio did not announce any plans for a console release with this update. Existing community mods are expected to break due to the fundamental codebase rewrite. The June 30 beta launch on Steam marks the first public step in this major technical transition.
Players waiting for better performance and smaller file sizes will have a concrete date to test the changes. The Steam open beta on June 30 provides the first opportunity to experience the 64-bit engine. The final release will determine if the stability improvements hold up under full load.
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