PAYDAY 2 VR AMA with OVERKILL_Tobias

[SBZ_Tobias]

Hello Everyone!

Time for an AMA. The main topic for today is PAYDAY 2 VR.
Get your questions ready we are about to start in about 10 minutes.

If you don't know who I am OVERKILL_Tobias, I work as a producer on PAYDAY 2 and PAYDAY 2 VR. I am joined today by OVERKILL_Almir to answer any questions you have regarding the virtual world of our favorite bank robbing simulator.

PAYDAY 2 VR AMA Summarized

Q: When does PAYDAY 2 VR launch?
A: The beta will launch November 16th 2017 - there is no release date for the finish product yet.

Q: What method of locomotion will be supported?
A: In the first phase of the beta - we'll use a dash-system, it will appear to the VR player as well as other players like running in quick bursts of speed. This will also be subject to a cooldown.
During the AMA, many users mentioned wanting optional systems of locomotion - we've heard these wishes and will look in to the possibility of providing options for smooth locomotion down the line.

Q: Will VR and Desktop player be able to play together?
A: Yes.

Q: What content will be available in VR?
A: The beta-period will focus on different aspects and will for testing purposes have content changed and added as we polish and work on the experience. When the final product is released, our goal is to have everything in PAYDAY 2 available in VR.

The exact number of heists in the first beta period is not yet set, we will see what heists the community would like to test first.

Q: What VR-platforms will be supported?
A: We've developed the game with HTC VIVE in mind, we are not platform exclusive in the world of VR-headsets, if users request Oculus Rift support, we can look into it during the beta or post-launch.

Q: What are the controls?
A: We'll release the control scheme at or before the release of the beta.

Q: Can other people see me wildly flailing my arms around?
A: We're looking at ways to address an accurate representation of the VR-users movement, it's not a priority before beta release however.

Q: Is it possible to use a gunstock?
A: We haven't designed the game around the use of gunstocks, there might be issues with locomotion and weapon switching.

Q: How will cross play between the VR and Desktop players work?
A: PAYDAY 2 VR is developed to fit seamlessly into the PAYDAY 2 game. Any number of VR-players should be able to play with any number of desktop users (as long as the total number of players does not exceed 4).

Q: Any VR-exclusive content/Any advantage or disadvantage for using VR?
A: Nothing exclusive.Though certain skills/perks that would be useless in VR, will be adjusted to fit the VR-player (snap zoom etc) and adjusted during the beta. VR-players will be able to lean and shoot around corners where the Desktop player will not, but our goal is to balance them as well as possible. While still taking into account their differences.

Q: Will akimbo weapons fire independently or double fire?
A: You control one weapon with each hand and fire them independent of each other, they will share an ammo-pool.

Q: Do I have to have PAYDAY 2: Ultimate Edition to play PAYDAY 2 VR?
A: No, any copy of PAYDAY 2, basic or Ultimate Edition will give you access to the VR version for free. It's a VR-update, not paid DLC.

Q: How are you handling special actions such as climbing ladders in VR?
A: We are experimenting with how this will be handled and look forward to your feedback once the beta is out.

Q: How will reloading work?
A: There will be a system where you press the reload button to trigger the reload, there is a reload timer next to your gun. There will be a box in your inventory belt, it will also show the reload timer. Once the timer is done you can intersect the gun with this box and your gun is reloaded. You can also grab the magazine from this box for a move it to the gun for a faster reload with less the full ammo.

There will also be an automatic reload system. But there will be some bonuses associated with choosing a active reload system.

Q: How will holding two-handed weapons work?
A: You can choose to grab the front of the gun but it will not be necessary to play efficiently. All weapons (except specials like bows) will be able to be handled with one hand and two handed will be available for long weapons like rifles.

Q: Is there a system to prevent players from clipping through walls/peeking through safes?
A: Yes, You will fade to black if you try it and then gently be teleported out of the wall or safe. Your hands are tracked locally to make sure you can't shoot or interact through walls.

Q: How will melee weapons work for the VR-player?
A: You can grab a melee weapon in either of your hands and it will deal damage on contact. There will be an adjustment to the melee damage for VR. You will also be able to use a melee weapon and a gun at the same time.

Q: Are there any limitations to the Dash-movement system such as cooldowns or dash distance? Can a player phase through NPC's with the dash?
A: Yes there is a range and cooldown associated with the dashes. These are dependent on skills and armor. You are not blocked by enemies and NPCs. Shields blocking the player will be investigated as we start the beta.
The guards can see you mid dash so there is no way to “teleport” past a guard.
Stealth is one of the reasons why we used a dash system rather than a true teleport.
The dash will always be at the maximum available speed.

Q: Will short players have the ability to adjust character size?
A: Height will be adjusted automatically so you will not be stuck in crouching.

Q: How will dodge work in VR?
A: The dodge system will work like in the Desktop version. There may be some skills related to dodge that may change somewhat in a later beta period.

Q: How will accuracy and stability work in VR?
A: We are looking at how to properly convert stability to VR and here we will use the beta to test how to best solve the issue. Accuracy will work in similar way to how it works in the desktop version.

Q: Are you going to use the same player/profile progression for VR and Desktop players?
A: You are going to be using the same profile and progression in VR and on the Desktop. We have yet decided if you can keep progress in the beta or if saving will be disabled to avoid issues during the beta period.

PD2VR will be patched into the main branch of the game eventually and then you will use the same save file in either game mode. As for any beta we suggest to backup save files to avoid any issues.

Q: What are the system requirements?
A: We are running on GTX 980 and GTX 1080 but performance will be the first beta periods main focus, to try and optimize the game as much as possible.

Q: How will throwables be handled for VR-players?
A: Grenades and bags will work in the same way.
For the beta you hold them in your hand, aim and use the trigger to launch them.

Q: Can we go fully prone?
A:Yes you can go prone however for the release there will not be a 3d person state for this. It would affect game balance quite severely.

Q: Will we be able to tell apart VR and Desktop players in-game?
A: We want to have an open discussion about identifying players as VR-players, we don't want to segregate the communities while still let player easily play with each other.

Q: How will jumping be handled with the Dash-movement?
A: It's is handled by the dash system if a jump is available to the location you have highlighted as target you will jump there.

Q: How will weapon switching be handled?
A: It's is handled by an intetory belt that is located around the player. Here you have access to weapons, throwables, bags and equipment.

Q: Can a VR player interact and shoot at the same time?
A: A VR player can perform any interaction such as revive, picklock or placing a drill while having your gun drawn. You can cover your own back but you will not be able to reload and if you use akimbo you can only use one of the guns.

Q: Will VR players be able to see their own bodies?
A: The body will not be rendered to save as much power as possible to increase performance. It would also obstruct items and hostages lying on the ground beneath the player.

Q: Can I put my mask on instantly?
A: By lifting the mask to your head and pressing trigger the mask will instantly be equipped and the interaction timer will be skipped.

Q: How will custody and spectate mode be handled?
A: You will be placed in a dark void with a display in front of you with that will show the player you are spectating.

Q: How will speed and movement skills be handled?
A: Some skills will have alternate VR versions that overrides the normal effect if it is used. For the beta they will simply not have an effect until this alternate version as been added.

Q: Will there be any VR specific skills?
A: There will not be any VR-only skills in the sense that Vr would get a special skill tree, we are doing the alternate version of skill approach so player can freely switch between VR and Desktop mode without their skill build getting altered.

[purogurasan]

Is the movement method teleport?

[Limbo]

Why did you trick us like this? we expected the payday 2 vr beta :(

[Nanashi]

The first question of course, is when will the VR beta start?

Will all levels be accessible in VR at the same time or will it be a rollout?

Will the locomotion be trackpad, teleport or something else?

[exocytosis]

AMA: VR-mode - how do you move?

Topic says it all, Tobias - how do you move about inside Payday 2 VR? (I have a feeling the conventional teleporation locomotion will break immersion instantly, so something tells me you guys have a few other tricks up your sleeves?)

[EpicallyEvil]

What is the main way of moving? I know in VR traditional types of movement with a mouse/controller can be super jaring and make you sick really quick. Will it be a TP based movement system?

[EpicallyEvil]

Oh also will this be playable on a Oculus Rift DK2 or will it have to be a retail OR CV1/HTC Vive?

[samus aran!]

I think you would choose where to go and then your character will mover there with out any other input needed

[Achuverz]

Today is VR day ?

[SBZ_Tobias]

Originally posted by ravingrowan:

Why did you trick us like this? we expected the payday 2 vr beta :(

We are gonna answer a lot of question about the beta today.

[Achuverz]

and Only HTC Vive ?

[SBZ_Tobias]

Originally posted by Achuverz:

Today is VR day ?

Yes, today we are talking about PD2VR. We are gonna sit down soon and answer as soon as there are a few questions :)

[Limbo]

What are the controls?

[Matei08]

Will it be Vive only or could we expect it to come to other VR platforms ( Oculus/ PSVR ) etc

[Limbo]

Will the vr users have any advantages or disavantages?

[eritose]

When is it released ? Do we get a real date later today or "soon"?

Ps4vr?