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PAYDAY 2 is about to join the Nintendo Switch's very small selection of first person shooters. But where this differs from the likes of DOOM, is in that multiplayer takes priority over single player.

More importantly though, it focuses on co-op, which is an area in which the Switch specialises in. You'll play with up to three other players as you aim to pull off heist after heist to earn the big bucks.

But more on that in a bit. We've created this FAQ to help those unfamiliar with the franchise understand what they're getting themselves into. If your question isn't answered, give us a shout in the comments and we might just update this.

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What is Payday 2?

Let's start with the basics. Payday 2 is a co-operative shooter in which you and up to three friends perform a variety of heists to generate cash. You then spend that cash on upgrades for your character, and it combines to provide a pretty addictive loop.

The most important feature you'll want to upgrade is your weapon, and there are a whole host of these that are designed to fit any play style. These range from shotguns, to sniper rifles, and even assault rifles. You can also modify your weapon with optics, suppressors, reticles, stocks – you name it.

Then there's cosmetic customisation, which largely revolves around your mask. You can craft one of these from scratch, completely customising the colour and pattern.

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How does Payday 2 play?

That's pretty much up to you really! At root level it's a first-person shooter, but given the sheer number of options at your disposal, you can approach each heist in whatever fashion you fancy.

Sure, you can go in all guns blazing and walk out with all of the loot if you're organised, but you can also sneak in. There are five skill trees you can develop to customise your character to suit your play style.

But regardless of how you approach your play, one thing remains consistent: that you're robbing banks.

What are the different play styles in Payday 2?

There are five different skill trees in Payday 2, and each of them offer a completely different play style. Within each skill tree, there are a bunch of other skill trees too, so you can further specialise in a particular area.

These skill trees are Mastermind, Enforcer, Technician, Ghost, and Fugitive.

So do I just do the same heist over and over?

That would be a little boring, wouldn't it. Thankfully, the developers have added a bunch of features to help keep things interesting.

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For a start, you probably won't know who you're playing with each time, or what their intentions are. You can play with total strangers and try your heist together, but bear in mind that you can kill each other. That means you could get to the end of a heist and have one team member blow all of the others away, running off with all of the cash.

That might sound irritating, but it can lead to some very interesting outcomes and helps keep the experience fresh.

Each heist also has a random layout, so you can't go in with a strategy that works every time and exploit it. Random events will even crop up too, forcing you to react. This means you can't ever really get too comfortable.

How does multiplayer work in Payday 2?

You access multiplayer by the aptly titled CRIME.NET. This is basically an in-game online service that provides a list of 'contracts' with various different settings. You can tweak these yourself by creating your own contract, or just risk it and play with another's.

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Can I play with friends in Payday 2?

Of course! What sort of Switch multiplayer game wouldn't let you play with your friends?! You can either invite them into another player's lobby, or create your own and invite them in that. 

If you don't have enough to make up the four required for a heist, you can also open up your contract to other players.

Is there a single-player campaign or an offline mode?

There's no single-player campaign, but there is a story that links all of the heists - and its cast - together, but you can play any of its missions in any order you please. There's also an offline version of CRIME.NET, so you tackle all the game's heists on your own with a squad of AI-controlled teammates. 

I've already played Payday 2, is there anything new in the Switch version?

Not an awful lot to be honest – at least not to justify a second purchase if you've played the original to death. Here's all of the new stuff in bullet points:

  • A new character, Joy, complete with her own mask and weapons (she's a timed exclusive).
  • Local multiplayer, so you can all play on your own Switch on the same network.
  • Full touch screen menu support.
  • Support for HD Rumble. This adds more impact to your weapon fire and grenades.

Of course, there is the added bonus of it being playable on a handheld system for the first time ever. If you're addicted to Payday 2, you can now bring it with you everywhere.

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How much does Payday 2 cost on Nintendo Switch?

Payday 2 will cost £44.99 or $49.99 in the eShop, and the same price for the physical version. Prices may vary between retailers though, for the physical version.

Are any amiibo supported in Payday 2?

At the time of press, it appears that Payday 2 doesn't support any amiibo functionality. That being said, considering the sheer amount of customisation involved, we wouldn't be surprised if that changed post launch. 

Are motion controls supported in the Switch version of Payday 2?

Sadly not! At least not at launch.

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How much storage space will I need on my Switch for Payday 2?

Payday 2 takes up 10507.78 MB specifically, or 10.5 GB for the laymen.

When is Payday 2 out on Nintendo Switch?

Very soon! Payday 2 will launch on 23rd February in the EU, and 27th February in North America.

Is there a special edition version of Payday 2 on Nintendo Switch?

None are planned at this time.

We'll be updating this FAQ over time, so be sure to feed back your questions or queries and we'll attept to update this guide for you.