A masked heister ducks under red security lasers in PAYDAY 3
Game News

PAYDAY 3 Is Free This Weekend: Start Times, Sale and Why Your Progress Carries Over

PAYDAY 3 is free to play from 5 November to 9 on Steam, with a sale on the base game and DLC. Start and end times, what's included and if progress carries.

By David Ware 2 min read
PC
PAYDAY 3 Free Weekend launches in --days --hours --mins --secs Thursday 5 November 2026
Image: Starbreeze
A masked crew moves through a grand hotel lobby in PAYDAY 3
Image: Starbreeze

The PAYDAY 3 free weekend starts on 5 November and runs until 9 November. Starbreeze's announcement says anyone can try the co-op heist shooter for free, the base game and selected DLC go on sale at the same time, and any progress you make stays if you buy the game later.

PAYDAY 3 free weekend at a glance

Starts5 November: 18:00 GMT / 19:00 CET / 10:00 PST / 13:00 EST
Ends9 November: 17:00 GMT / 18:00 CET / 09:00 PST / 12:00 EST
ProgressCarries over if you buy
SaleBase game and selected DLC, plus bundles
Normal price£23.99 / $29.99 / €28.49 on Steam
Nebula accountNo longer required

When does the PAYDAY 3 free weekend start?

Starbreeze lists the start as 19:00 CET / 10:00 PST on 5 November, and the end as 18:00 CET / 09:00 PST on 9 November. For UK players that's 18:00 and 17:00 GMT. Its post also says 14:00 and 13:00 EST, which doesn't match the other times this week now US clocks have changed: 10:00 PST is 13:00 EST, so go by the CET or PST time.

What can you play for free?

Starbreeze says there's plenty to explore after three years of updates, including:

  • All previously paid DLC heists, which are now free.
  • A brand-new Campaign Mode.
  • The return of the CRIME.NET server browser.
  • The Skills 2.0 and Armor 2.0 revamps.
Police surround a building on a rainy city street in PAYDAY 3
Image: Starbreeze

Does your PAYDAY 3 progress carry over?

Yes. Starbreeze says all progress from the free weekend stays after it ends, so you can pick up where you left off if you buy the game later.

Do you need a Nebula account?

No. Starbreeze Nebula accounts are no longer mandatory, which makes it quicker to get in.

How much is PAYDAY 3 in the sale?

The sale starts at the same time as the free weekend, covering the base game and selected DLC. Starbreeze hasn't listed the discounts yet. The normal price is £23.99 / $29.99 / €28.49 on Steam. If you already own the base game, the Geared Up Bundle of eleven DLC packs gets an extra 10% off on top, and the Big Score Bundle is on offer too.

Watch PAYDAY 3 gameplay

Official trailers play on the PAYDAY 3 Steam page.

More heists and co-op shooters on iGame Magazine

FAQ

ShareXfr/
David Ware
Written by

David Ware

Managing Editor

1,076 articlesWriting for iGame since 2024

David Ware is the Founder and Managing Editor of iGame Magazine. Since 2024 he has built igamemag.com into a trusted online destination for gamers and tech enthusiasts, covering the latest gaming news, in-depth game reviews, hardware and tech breakdowns, and practical guides.

How we write: every article is researched from official sources, such as developer posts, store pages and press releases, then fact-checked and edited by David Ware before it's published. We use AI tools to help with research and drafting.

Read our editorial policy · Spotted a mistake? Tell us