Payday 2 Infamous Collection price increase controversy erupted across gaming communities as Starbreeze Entertainment quietly raised the comprehensive DLC bundle’s cost by 50% – from $100 to $150 – simultaneously with launching their new $5 monthly subscription service for accessing over 65 DLC packs. This pricing strategy immediately triggered widespread community backlash, with players flooding Steam with negative reviews that dragged the 12-year-old heist shooter’s rating down to “Mixed” status.
Subscription Service Launch and Hidden Price Changes
The Payday 2 Infamous Collection price increase coincided with Starbreeze’s introduction of “Payday 2: Subscription,” which offers full access to more than 65 DLCs for $4.99 monthly or $19.99 for six months. While the company openly announced this subscription model as providing “greater flexibility” for experiencing the game’s extensive content library, they made no public statement about simultaneously hiking the Infamous Collection’s permanent purchase price.
Gustav Nisser, Starbreeze’s Head of Commercial, positioned the subscription as offering players “more choice” between temporary access and permanent ownership. However, the concurrent 50% price increase on the permanent option created a situation where the subscription became artificially more attractive, leading many players to view this as manipulative business practice designed to funnel customers toward recurring payments.
Community Response and Steam Review Bombing
The Payday 2 Infamous Collection price increase triggered immediate community outrage, with players expressing frustration through Steam’s review system and social media platforms. Many reviews characterized the price hike as a “scummy cash grab” and “middle finger to the community,” particularly given the timing with Payday 3’s underperformance and the company’s return focus to the older game.
Reddit discussions highlighted that while the subscription concept itself wasn’t inherently problematic, the stealth price increase created ethical concerns about transparency and fair pricing practices. Players noted that Starbreeze provided no advance warning or explanation for the significant cost adjustment, making it appear deliberately deceptive rather than market-driven pricing optimization.
Starbreeze’s “Error” Claim and Damage Control
Following widespread criticism, Starbreeze attempted damage control by claiming the Payday 2 Infamous Collection price increase was an “error” and announcing its reversion to original pricing. Their official statement read: “We’ve seen the feedback on the Infamy Collection pricing change that happened earlier this month, and have investigated. The pricing has been reverted to where it should be, and we apologize for this error.”
However, community reception of this explanation remained overwhelmingly skeptical, with players pointing out the suspicious timing and magnitude of the supposed “mistake.” Social media responses mocked the error claim, with users sarcastically noting the unlikely coincidence of a 50% price increase occurring simultaneously with a subscription service launch designed to offer temporary DLC access.
Historical Context and Trust Issues
The Payday 2 Infamous Collection price increase controversy cannot be separated from Starbreeze’s troubled history with community relations and monetization strategies. Players referenced past controversies including the 2015 safes-and-drills microtransaction system, the problematic Completely Overkill Pack situation, and most recently, Payday 3’s disastrous launch that forced the company to refocus on supporting the older game.
Long-time community members expressed particular frustration that Starbreeze would implement potentially predatory pricing practices on a 12-year-old game after years of accumulated DLC investment from loyal players. The perception that the company was exploiting Payday 2’s dedicated fanbase to recover from Payday 3’s commercial failure created additional resentment beyond the immediate pricing concerns.
Subscription Model Viability and Market Positioning
Despite the Payday 2 Infamous Collection price increase backlash, some community members acknowledged the subscription service’s potential value for specific player demographics. New players could access the entire DLC catalog for one month at $5 rather than paying $100+ for permanent ownership, while returning players might find monthly subscriptions cost-effective for periodic gameplay sessions.
However, the mathematical reality that subscribers would need approximately two years of consistent payments to equal the original bundle price made the permanent purchase option more sensible for dedicated players. The 50% price increase effectively shortened this break-even period, making the subscription artificially competitive against ownership – a strategy players viewed as manipulative rather than consumer-friendly.
Industry Implications and Precedent Concerns
The Payday 2 Infamous Collection price increase represents broader industry concerns about post-launch monetization strategies and how companies leverage existing content libraries for new revenue streams. Gaming communities worry this approach could encourage other publishers to implement similar artificial scarcity tactics that make subscription services appear more attractive through inflated permanent purchase prices.
The controversy also highlights transparency expectations from gaming communities, who increasingly demand clear communication about pricing changes and business model modifications. Starbreeze’s attempt to quietly implement significant price adjustments while publicly promoting new subscription options demonstrated poor understanding of community expectations for honest communication.
Financial Context and Company Pressures
The Payday 2 Infamous Collection price increase occurred against Starbreeze Entertainment’s challenging financial backdrop, including Payday 3’s commercial underperformance and the company’s need to generate revenue from existing properties. However, players argued that financial pressures didn’t justify potentially deceptive pricing practices that exploited loyal community members.
Industry observers noted that while companies face legitimate pressures to monetize aging content libraries, successful strategies typically emphasize value addition and community benefits rather than artificial price inflation that primarily serves corporate financial goals. The negative community reaction suggested Starbreeze’s approach damaged long-term brand trust for short-term revenue optimization.
Long-Term Community Relations Impact
Beyond immediate financial implications, the Payday 2 Infamous Collection price increase controversy damaged Starbreeze’s relationship with its core community at a crucial time when the company needed player support for Payday 3’s ongoing development and improvement efforts. Trust rebuilding became significantly more challenging following this pricing debacle.
Community sentiment surveys and forum discussions indicated that many longtime players felt betrayed by the company’s approach, with some expressing intentions to avoid future Starbreeze products regardless of quality improvements. This erosion of goodwill potentially impacted the company’s ability to successfully relaunch Payday 3 or develop new franchise entries.
Resolution and Current Status
Following the community backlash, Starbreeze reverted the Payday 2 Infamous Collection price increase and maintained the subscription service at its original pricing structure. However, the damage to community trust persisted, with many players remaining skeptical about the company’s future pricing strategies and communication practices.
The incident served as a case study in how not to implement new monetization strategies, demonstrating that transparency, community communication, and respect for existing customers remain essential for successful business model transitions in the gaming industry.
Lessons for Gaming Industry Monetization
The Payday 2 Infamous Collection price increase controversy provides valuable lessons for other gaming companies considering subscription services or pricing model changes. Successful implementations require transparent communication, genuine value propositions for customers, and respect for existing community investments rather than artificial manipulation tactics.
Industry analysts noted that subscription services work best when they complement rather than replace existing purchase options, providing genuine flexibility and value rather than appearing designed to extract maximum revenue through pricing psychology and artificial scarcity creation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did the Payday 2 Infamous Collection price increase?
Starbreeze increased the Infamous Collection price by 50%, from $100 to $150, without any public announcement, coinciding with the launch of their new $5 monthly subscription service.
What is the Payday 2 subscription service?
The subscription service costs $4.99 monthly or $19.99 for six months, providing access to over 65 DLCs including heists, weapons, and cosmetics, but only while actively subscribed.
Did Starbreeze reverse the price increase?
Yes, following community backlash and negative reviews, Starbreeze reverted the price increase and claimed it was an “error,” though the community remains skeptical about this explanation.
Why are players upset about the price change?
Players are angry because Starbreeze made the change without announcement, the timing with the subscription launch appears manipulative, and it seems designed to make the subscription artificially more attractive than permanent ownership.
How did the community respond to the price increase?
Players flooded Steam with negative reviews, dragging Payday 2’s rating down to “Mixed,” and expressed widespread criticism on social media platforms and gaming forums.
Is the subscription service worth it for players?
For new players or those who play occasionally, the subscription can be cost-effective. However, dedicated players who plan long-term engagement would save money by purchasing DLCs permanently rather than subscribing for extended periods.
What does this mean for Payday 3’s future?
The controversy damages Starbreeze’s community trust at a crucial time when they need player support for Payday 3’s ongoing improvement efforts, potentially impacting the sequel’s recovery prospects.
Conclusion
The Payday 2 Infamous Collection price increase controversy exemplifies how gaming companies can severely damage community relationships through poorly-executed monetization strategies that prioritize short-term revenue over long-term trust. Starbreeze’s decision to quietly inflate DLC bundle prices while simultaneously launching subscription alternatives created the appearance of manipulative business practices that exploited loyal players rather than providing genuine value. While the company eventually reversed the price increase and claimed it was an error, the damage to community trust highlighted the importance of transparent communication and ethical pricing practices in maintaining healthy developer-player relationships. This incident serves as a cautionary tale for other gaming companies considering subscription models or pricing changes, demonstrating that successful monetization strategies must emphasize customer value and respect rather than artificial scarcity tactics that alienate existing communities and undermine brand credibility.