PayDay 2

Payday 2 is a cooperative first-person shooter that was developed by Overkill Software and released on August 13, 2013. In the first month of its release, the game sold over 1 million copies. Throughout the years, the game has remained astoundingly popular. In the fourth quarter of 2019 alone, Payday 2 garnered $7.84 million in sales. Payday 2 is a sequel to PAYDAY: The Heist and is currently available on multiple platforms including Windows, PlayStation, Xbox, and the Nintendo Switch.

Just like its prequel, Payday 2 takes place in the Washington D.C metropolitan area, where the player is given the freedom to choose which heists they want to commit. There are a lot of different heists, and players can either perform these robberies alone or with up to three other teammates. Unlike its predecessor, Payday 2 expands upon character customization, weapon variety, and map interaction.

Since its release, more than thirty downloadable content (DLC) packages have been released, all of which require further payment. These DLCs build upon the game, introducing new characters, heists, and weapons. In the past, these DLCs have been received negatively, with many players claiming it to be “pay-to-win”. In 2015, players were able to circumvent microtransactions to obtain DLCs through the use of hacks. In addition to the use of physical currency to buy virtual goods and hacking, other ethical considerations for Payday 2 include its graphic depictions of domestic terrorism and excessive violence.