Installing older updates of PD2 (my method)

contains 75% less bloat when compared to other "how to install older versions" guides!!
only 3 short sections!
Want to play PD2, but without 80 GB crap? this guide is for you!!
In fact, you can still gain skin drops!!!

1. requirements

1. System with at least 30 GB of free space (U100.2 and lower)

2. depotdownloader - https://github.com/SteamRE/DepotDownloader

3. Time.

4. removed save file. go to %localappdata%/PAYDAY 2/saves/<steamID>, and remove your save file.
or, backup it somewhere, your choice. there's also an save file in steam folder, i suggest you to do same thing to it.

2. main installation

drag all contents of depotdownloader archive everywhere you want. hell, if you want, drag it on your desktop!

get your update from https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1WKMjyTeXBwHxq7UeuS_qys8m-CWIgQucNhckkh7xtm0/edit#gid=0. this will ♥♥♥ in handy in next step!
you can also use steamDB, but it will require you to ♥♥♥♥ with dates.

now, in depotdownloader folder, make ".bat" file with following text in it: (this one is for U100, but just replace number after "-manifest" with manifest ID you want)
"dotnet DepotDownloader.dll -app 218620 -depot 218621 -manifest 3856043430034164809 -username yourlogin -password yourpassword" ("yourpassword" and "yourlogin" require your own data)

launch .bat file you made.

now, get code from your e-mail, input it, and wait until download finishes.

after finishing download, we need to trick steam into thinking that we playing PD2. in game's core folder, make "steam_appid.txt" with "218620" in it
by the way, DO NOT add it as non-steam game if you want to post screenshots.

after that, just launch game. about being stuck on "press any key", idk what causes it.

3. installing BLT + mods

i don't really understand, how the ♥♥♥♥ you do get old version of SuperBLT (that is also kinda cringe ngl, every single ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ mod i want uses it, and it's getting hella annoying tbh) so there will be only stuff related to old BLT 1.0

https://github.com/JamesWilko/Payday-2-BLT/releases?after=2.1 - BLT 1.0

pick version by looking at dates. for example, 1.07 works absolutely fine on U100.

For mods, look for some ancient ones from cheatsworkshop. Or, if you're a person of culture, use wayback machine to access payday2mods or whatever is name of that website
anyways, that's all what you need to know. tried to make it as short as possible.


edit: found downloads for beardlib, but it seems to have almost no mods for old BLT. custom maps also seem to crash on U100.2

speeding up downloads (optional, might not even work)

to speed up downloads, simply add these lines in your .bat file (i used x4 of default server and downloads amount):
-max-downloads 32 -max-servers 80
by the way, this might not work for some people, but for me it sped up U100 manifest download, reducing download time from 2-3 days to 6-8 hours

Gameplay of different versions or whatever

U100 gameplay. as you can see, this version is way more solo-friendly than pre-U100 (maybe even pre-U39, god i miss my 24 dodge suit so badly)

U37.1, the most popular version. (in one day i managed to get 3 4-player teams on it) As james said, Never attempt to play it in solo, but rules are made to be broken, right?

James discord with #u37-looking-to-play, channel was made probably for like U37.1 or something[discord.gg]

[Ɛ: ʎɥɔʇɐԀ]

2k hours, already explains everything
what such a dumbass...

[Ɛ: ʎɥɔʇɐԀ]

cry about it wanker :3

[Frost of Niflheimr]

nevermind now I see why you cheat, you're a mentally ill furry so of course you'll look for shortcuts for everything.

[Frost of Niflheimr]

cheating scum writer