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PAYDAY: Aces High Launches November 5, With a Free VR Demo Available Now
PAYDAY players will soon be handling their heists with their own hands. Fast Travel Games announced on October 19 that PAYDAY: Aces High will launch November 5, 2026, for Meta Quest, SteamVR and Steam Frame at $24.99. Designed specifically for virtual reality, this standalone entry is not an expansion for PAYDAY 3. Instead, it brings cooperative robbery missions to teams of up to four players. A final free demo featuring two contracts is available until October 26, with an exclusive mask promised to participants.
By Maëlle PAYDAY: Aces High 
PAYDAY: Aces High Finally Has a Release Date
The next PAYDAY heist now has a confirmed release schedule.
PAYDAY: Aces High is due November 5, 2026, for Meta Quest, SteamVR and Steam Frame.
Fast Travel Games announced the date on October 19 alongside a new trailer and the final public playtest.
The stated US price is $24.99.
Regional pricing has not been established by the announcement and should be checked through the relevant storefronts.
Aces High is a standalone game set in the PAYDAY universe under an official licensing agreement with Starbreeze Entertainment.
It is neither a PAYDAY 3 expansion nor a VR mode attached to an existing installment.
Four Heisters Working Together in Virtual Reality
Cooperation remains central to the experience.
Up to four players can form a crew and prepare for their next robbery.
The objective is familiar: infiltrate a location, reach its valuables and escape with the loot.
A quiet approach may avoid direct confrontation.
However, an alarm can quickly turn the operation into a firefight with security forces.
The major difference lies in virtual reality interactions.
Players use VR controllers to manipulate equipment, weapons and loot.
Fast Travel Games emphasizes physically handling gear and carrying the bags recovered during robberies.
These mechanics aim to make familiar PAYDAY activities more tangible.
Reloading during a firefight or using equipment while sneaking through a building could require greater attention than pressing a conventional button.
However, comfort and accuracy will need to be assessed in the commercial release.
The Free Demo Runs Through October 26
Players do not have to wait until November to try the concept.
Fast Travel Games is hosting its final playtest from October 19 through October 26.
The demo is available on Steam and Meta Quest.
On PC VR, it is part of October's Steam Next Fest.
Two heists are available.
The first takes place at Flowtrust Bank.
The second is set in the Cosmopolitan Museum of Art.
The two locations offer opportunities to explore different robbery scenarios.
Players can attempt stealth or use a more aggressive loadout.
However, the demo does not establish the complete number of contracts available in the finished game.
Participants Receive an Exclusive Kitty Mask
The developer has added an incentive for joining the final test.
Participants will receive an exclusive Kitty Mask in the full game when it launches.
The mask is a cosmetic reward.
The announcement does not establish whether it will later become obtainable through other means.
For players who enjoy collecting distinctive PAYDAY masks, the offer provides another reason to participate.
The playtest also gives Fast Travel Games a final opportunity to collect feedback.
Creative director Erik Odeldahl explains that earlier sessions helped the team improve the game's systems before launch.
Four Specialties for Planning Heists
The game follows a team called the Aces.
Four character specialties have been introduced.
Ace of Hearts, the Mastermind, focuses on planning and coordination.
Ace of Clubs, the Ghost, represents stealth.
Ace of Diamonds, the Technician, specializes in equipment and gadgets.
Ace of Spades, the Enforcer, favors direct confrontation.
Fast Travel Games also emphasizes loadout customization.
Assault rifles, pistols, shotguns and submachine guns are among the announced weapons.
Gadgets include grappling tools and sentry guns.
Resources earned during heists can be spent on new equipment and abilities.
The different specialties are designed to encourage varied team strategies rather than a single mandatory approach to every objective.
A Revenge Story Against a Business Tycoon
The story begins with a conspiracy orchestrated by Warren Jupiter.
The business magnate frames the Aces and sends them to prison.
The crew eventually sets out to damage his empire by targeting his wealth.
Banks, museums and a luxury penthouse are among the announced locations.
That premise gives the individual contracts a common purpose.
Each operation becomes another stage in a campaign of revenge against a powerful business figure.
However, the developer has not revealed a complete list of every final mission.
Steam Frame Is Among the Supported Platforms
The October announcement also confirms support for Valve's Steam Frame VR headset.
Fast Travel Games has explained that the Steam version will support both SteamVR and Steam Frame.
That could interest players considering different virtual reality setups.
However, technical compatibility should not be confused with guaranteed hardware availability in every territory.
The developer has confirmed platform support, not simultaneous retail distribution of every device.
No PS VR2 edition has a confirmed November 5 release date in the principal announcement.
The Next Heist Begins November 5
PAYDAY: Aces High arrives as the franchise explores formats beyond its traditional releases.
Starbreeze retains ownership of PAYDAY while licensing this particular adaptation to a developer experienced in virtual reality.
The objective is straightforward: preserve the pleasure of organizing a robbery with friends while making equipment handling and movement more physical.
The free demo, available through October 26, provides an opportunity to examine that approach before launch.
On November 5, owners of compatible headsets will be able to purchase the announced commercial release for $24.99 in the US.
The remaining question is whether handling equipment and completing repeated heists will remain satisfying beyond an impressive trailer.
Organizing four criminals is complicated enough with a mouse and keyboard. Giving everyone VR controllers may make communication even more entertaining.