Shacknews finds Payday: Aces High solid VR heisting with lost nuance

Shacknews put out its review of Payday: Aces High on November 5, 2026, the same day the virtual reality (VR) heisting game launched on Meta Quest and Steam. The outlet used a Meta Quest 3 build supplied by the publisher for its review.

Payday: Aces High provides solid virtual reality heisting action but gives up some of the nuance found in traditional Payday formats, Shacknews said. The reviewer said the game retains staple heist gameplay with VR twists, yet the format removes some of the little things that make other Payday games special.

Gunplay stands out as the strongest part of Payday: Aces High, Shacknews said, noting that firing an assault rifle with vibrating Meta Quest controllers felt good and that manually removing the magazine, replacing it, and loading a bullet into the chamber was satisfying. In VR, players have to hold weapons somewhat properly, and firing an assault rifle with one hand makes it fire wildly in different directions. The outlet describes this weapon handling as part of what makes the gunplay feel good, with Meta Quest controllers vibrating in the player’s hands.

VR-specific details such as a wristwatch showing ammo count, forearm-displayed mission objectives, and a headquarters table for planning heist layouts drew praise from Shacknews. It also highlighted VR-tailored minigames, including safe dial puzzles for entry codes and lever movements that match digital frequencies during steel wall drilling. The reviewer cites the safe dial puzzle in the first heist and the lever frequency task in a later mission as nice touches that differentiate the game from other Payday titles.

Shacknews also said Aces High feels much more linear than other Payday games, and the inherent clunkiness of virtual reality makes it almost impossible to keep stealth going for as long as desired. The reviewer noted that players still have agency in how they approach a level, though almost every mission started with the reviewer and a buddy confused about detection, then a shootout as they fought toward the treasure. The outlet also said the NPC AI is incredibly weak, with cops appearing out of nowhere and allies looking at enemies or stepping into gunfire, and said this weak AI breaks immersion and makes gun fights annoying. The outlet called it virtual reality jankiness that does not mesh well with Payday DNA.

Shacknews concluded that Aces High captures only some of what makes the original Payday titles special, though it takes good advantage of virtual reality features and never bored the reviewer playing with a friend. The reviewer called it a solid option for people with a VR headset or those eager for new games on Steam Frame.

Payday: Aces High takes place in the same universe as other Payday games and follows The Aces, a criminal group seeking revenge after a nefarious billionaire wronged them. Shacknews notes the story does its own thing rather than adapting existing characters and storylines, and WorthPlaying says the billionaire is Warren Jupiter, noting he framed the group and threw them in jail. The reviewer liked that the game is narratively independent within the Payday universe.

Players choose from four Aces—Ace of Hearts as Mastermind, Ace of Clubs as Ghost, Ace of Diamonds as Technician, and Ace of Spades as Enforcer—and customize them. Shacknews says players begin with limited customization options but unlock new masks, weapons, and gadgets by finishing heists and progressing. Cash and rep earned from missions go toward skills, gear, and gadgets, a hallmark of the Payday series that Aces High handles well. WorthPlaying and Road to VR describe spending hard-earned cash and rep on skills, gear, and toys.

Co-op heists allow up to four players to team up, with players able to bring up to three partners in crime. Road to VR described the action as frenetic four-player co-op. Players can use ARs, SMGs, shotguns, pistols, and gadgets such as grapple and sentry guns.

Fast Travel Games unveiled Payday: Aces High at the VR Games Showcase on March 24, 2026, calling it a virtual reality co-op heist title set in Starbreeze Entertainment’s PAYDAY universe. Road to VR said the game was slated to launch sometime in 2026 on Quest and SteamVR headsets, without a release date at the time of the reveal.

Fast Travel Games ran a closed community playtest for Payday: Aces High from August 20 through August 24, 2026, offering limited slots through its official website. WorthPlaying said the playtest would let people try the game on Meta Quest 3 before its release later in 2026.

Erik Odeldahl, Fast Travel Games Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder, said the response since the first reveal had been incredibly warm from longtime heisters and the virtual reality community. Starbreeze Entertainment CEO Adolf Kristjansson said virtual reality takes first-person Payday chaos further and that Fast Travel Games is delivering with Aces High, commenting on the studio shaping this corner of the Payday universe and anticipation for community reaction to the playtest. “Payday has always put you inside the heist, first person, and right in the middle of the chaos,” Kristjansson said.

IGN posted a developer diary video for Payday: Aces High on June 23, 2026, covering story, gameplay, and post-launch plans that include new free DLC in 2026. Before launch, the game went through a final playtest on Steam and Meta Quest and offered a Steam Next Fest demo, with demo participants receiving an exclusive Kitty Mask in the full game.