PAYDAY 3 DLC no longer requires separate heist purchases: all heists are included in the base game following the September 2026 update, with future heists covered by the same policy. Weapon Packs, Tailor Packs, Character Packs, and Crimebonds remain separate options for players seeking additional equipment, cosmetics, or heisters. Before buying, distinguish the content you want from its heist name, and check whether the purchase also involves progression requirements.
Are PAYDAY 3 heists free now?
All previously paid heists became part of the base game with the September update, listed as the released Update 3.9 anniversary update. The policy explicitly includes future heists, so buying an old heist expansion is no longer the route to accessing those missions. This changes how to read older DLC recommendations: a heist that once required a separate purchase can now be included while its associated equipment remains a separate product.
The paid heist DLCs were delisted from storefronts on August 25, 2026, and the released August roadmap entry records that change. The announcement names Syntax Error, Boys in Blue, Houston Breakout, Fear & Greed, Party Powder, Delivery Charge, and Shopping Spree. Existing owners retained access to their content after delisting, so the removal of those listings did not mean previously purchased content was being taken away.
The delisting also covered the Chapter 1–4 bundles for Syntax Error, Boys in Blue, Houston Breakout, and Fear & Greed. Year 1 Edition, Year 1 Pass, and the 2nd Anniversary Bundle were included because they contained one or more affected heist DLCs. When comparing editions, use their current item lists rather than treating an older bundle name as proof that a separate heist purchase is still necessary.
Which types of DLC are still available?
Weapon Pack, Tailor Pack, and Character Pack DLCs were explicitly unaffected by the heist changes and remain available for purchase. Steam describes Weapon Packs as arsenal additions, Tailor Packs as cosmetic sets containing outfits, masks, and gloves, and Character Packs as additions to the heister roster. These distinctions give you a practical starting point: choose by the kind of content you want, then inspect the individual pack.
A shared name does not make a heist and its companion packs the same purchase. For example, the free-heist policy covers Boys in Blue and Houston Breakout missions, while their Weapon Packs and Tailor Packs have separately described contents. If your aim is simply to play those heists, their equipment and clothing packs are optional purchases rather than a requirement for mission access.
Crimebonds: contents, pricing, and unlocking
Steam describes Crimebonds as themed collections of cosmetics, weapons, and other items, with Brute Force and Guns Blazin' listed in that category. The Epic storefront snapshot captured on November 9, 2026 shows US$9.99 for each of those Crimebonds. That figure is a dollar price from that store snapshot, so check the listing you will actually purchase from before treating it as your checkout price.
Brute Force carries an explicit condition: Crimebond items require game progress to unlock. Buying it therefore should not be understood as a promise that every included item immediately becomes available. If immediate access to a particular item is your deciding factor, check its unlock conditions before committing rather than relying on the collection's purchase button alone.
Guns Blazin' includes outfits, cosmetics, weapon perks, dual revolvers, and stealable dual shotguns. Its official description identifies the dual revolvers and dual shotguns as first-time additions to PAYDAY 3, while the update listing dates the Crimebond entry to October 26, 2026. The description specifically calls the dual shotguns stealable, a detail to consider when comparing the advertised contents with what you expect from a purchase.
Comparing Weapon Packs by their contents
Syntax Error Weapon Pack contains three named firearms: the WAR-45 SMG, FSA-12G Shotgun, and FIK 22 TLR Marksman Rifle. It also includes the Light Holographic Sight, Minimized Hook Stock, Flat-Side STAB Grip, Whistleblower Weapon Charm, and BSOD Weapon Sticker. Those listed items provide a more useful purchase comparison than assuming the pack is needed to enter the Syntax Error heist.
Boys in Blue Weapon Pack lists the Adelig RG5, ATK-7, and Bullkick 500, alongside 29 mods, one sticker, and one charm. Houston Breakout Weapon Pack lists the Chanit S3, Picchio Duro 5, and M7 Pursuivant, with 18 unique mods and three shared mods. Compare those named weapons and extras directly when deciding between these packs; their contents differ even though both belong to the Weapon Pack category.
The Swedish Weapon Pack takes another approach, with a secondary weapon, a primary weapon, an OVERKILL weapon, and a throwable. Steam also lists Fear & Greed among its Weapon Packs, alongside Swedish, Syntax Error, Boys in Blue, and Houston Breakout. Use each product's own contents to narrow the choice instead of assuming every pack follows the same assortment of equipment.
Cosmetic and Character Packs
Boys in Blue Tailor Pack and Houston Breakout Tailor Pack each list four suits, four masks, and four pairs of gloves. Syntax Error Tailor Pack likewise includes four outfits, four masks, and four pairs of gloves. Steam's Tailor Pack category also includes Fear & Greed and First Responder, giving cosmetic-focused buyers a separate category to browse from weapon additions.
Steam lists Houston Character Pack and Jacket Character Pack as additions to the heister roster. In the Epic storefront snapshot, Houston Character Pack and First Responder Tailor Pack are marked free, while Jacket has a paid listing. Check these specific products before paying for a broader collection, and do not read their free labels as a promise that every Character Pack or Tailor Pack costs nothing.
Rewards for previous paid-heist owners
The compensation announcement covers players who owned paid heist DLCs before delisting, whether purchased individually or through a bundle, with rewards scheduled after the September update. Eligible owners of any heist DLC receive the moddable S40 “Partisan” Pistol Variant. For each individual heist DLC owned, the announcement also specifies a unique preset mask themed around that heist.
Eligible owners of all seven heist DLCs additionally qualify for the “Flame Keeper” Preset Mask. That reward depends on the announcement's ownership conditions, rather than simply having access to the now-included heists. If you are checking entitlement, compare your pre-delisting purchases with those conditions, including any qualifying heists obtained through bundles.
Should you choose The Big Score bundle?
Steam lists The Big Score as a 12-item bundle that includes PAYDAY 3 itself, Jacket Character Pack, Swedish Weapon Pack, and Trifecta Lootbag. Its item list also includes the Weapon Packs and Tailor Packs for Boys in Blue, Fear & Greed, Houston Breakout, and Syntax Error. Compare that exact assortment with the extras you want, keeping the included base game separate in your decision from the additional packs. With heists already included in the base game, the relevant purchase question is which listed weapons, cosmetics, characters, or Crimebond collections you actually want.