Platforms: PC | PSN | XBLA

Developers: Overkill Software

Publishers: 505 Games

The original PayDay: The Heist was something of a mixed bag, also taking the crown for having a slightly disingenuous title in that there was only really one level in which you actually got the chance to pull off an awesome heist: the aptly named 'Diamond Heist'.

Indeed, Diamond Heist is the level I bring up when the chaps at Overkill ask me if I enjoyed the first game. Out of the six jobs in the original Payday, it's Diamond Heist that sticks in the brain: a multi-stage, near-impossible mission. There are diamonds in a vault on the top floor of a skyscraper. It's a level that can be completed stealthily, but the random elements (changing keycodes, hostage willpower, alarm sensitivity) mean that almost never happens.

It's fantastic. And to think, that last level was a bit of an afterthought.

"In the first game we kind of said to one another, 'maybe we should incorporate some stealth mechanics', but we'd pretty much run out of time and money so we had to kind of shoehorn it into one of the stages: Diamond Heist," said the game's designer and composer Simon Viklund. "That level was a bit of a mess. We've put things right this time."

• What: Syndicate: Executive Package Edition
• Where: The Hut
• Current Price: £4.48 (With Code)
• Voucher Code: REC10
• Syndicate PC price comparison

Falling below the £5 mark for the first time, The Hut are providing a very tempting deal for this FPS reboot. With the use of the voucher code above you can bag yourself a saving of £3.50, and the Executive Package Edition also comes bundled with golden skins for your weapons in the multiplayer side of things… which is nice.

The single player story is short and linear, not taking full advantage of the breach mechanics it proudly boasts, but the slick control mechanics & well produced visuals make Syndicate a pleasant if forgettable ride. The co-op is the saving grace, feeling much more like its predecessor as well as providing more open levels. For less than a fiver, it’s certainly worth checking out. Thanks to esclad @ HUKD!

"See You At The Safehouse"

Payday 2 was officially announced yesterday, and 505 games have issued us with an obligatory teaser trailer. The stealthy sequel will take players on "an epic crime spree" in Washington D.C., expanding on the original game with detailed heists, more open environments, an advanced AI director and fleshed-out stealth mechanics.

Matt recently got to grips with Payday 2 at a Starbreeze showcase, so we'll have more gameplay details for you soon. It's set to launch this Summer on PC, PSN and XBLA.

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is due for release across digital marketplaces later this Spring and, following our hands-on with the game (read our Brothers preview here), we sat down with the Swedish film-maker and game director Josef Fares to talk about making the transition from films to games, why he co-op would ruin his game, how publishers are holding the industry back, and why he's not a fan of the Ouya.

Josef Fares: I like your hair, man.

Matt Gardner (Dealspwn): Thanks very much. I liked your presentation.

Josef Fares: (Laughs) Thank you.

Dealspwn: You've had no small amount of success as a movie director, especially in Sweden. Why make the transition to games now?

Josef Fares: Because I have a strong passion for games. This is a dream come true for me. I try to play every game out there, I own every console; I'm a hardcore gamer. I really wanted to make a game some day, so this really is a dream come true for me – an opportunity I couldn't say no to. I'll make less money from doing this, but I don't care. This isn't about money, it's about following your passion.

And you know, I think I have something to contribute to gaming, if I get the chance to make further games, I mean.

Film-maker and Brothers game director Josef Fares is an outspoken chap. In amongst chatting about his upcoming game last week, he told Dealspwn that although Starbreeze and 505 Games have given him total control over his game, there are still publishers out there who "interfere too much" when it comes to development, even dragging down franchises in some cases.

Overkill Software lifted the lid on some Payday 2 details last week at a hands-off introductory demonstration (look out for a write-up from our chat with the developers in a day or two), and have sent over a fat bunch of screenshots and an enormous sheet full of facts on the follow-up to Payday: The Heist.

Payday 2 will see players once again step into the shoes, and slip on the masks, of Dallas, Hoxton, Wolf and Chains, as they head over to Washington D.C. "for an epic crime spree."

Platforms: PC | PS3 | Xbox 360 (version tested)

Developers: Starbreeze

Publishers: 505 Games

"I want you to know that games are my passion," says Josef Fares, a man celebrated in his native Sweden as a rather successful film director. "This isn't some bullshit 'EA PR stunt', I don't need that kind of attention. I've always wanted to make a video game; I'm a hardcore gamer myself and I truly believe that I can make a difference in this industry."

He's a charismatic fellow. This is a man who's used to press junkets and hardline questions from a homeland media representing very exacting and knowledgable consumer base. As such, there's none of the nervousness that occasionally greets these meetings between developers and games journalists. He understands that a 15 minute demo can't convey the artistic magnitude of the game that he's trying to present, and he's not bound by publisher-led censorship as he sounds off in a twenty minute introduction to Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons: a game of which he's fiercely proud.

"If, when you play it all of the way through, you don't feel the uniqueness of this game, you can kick me in the face," he says. He's smiling, but one gets the feeling he's deadly serious.

• What: Syndicate
• Where: The Hut
• Current Price: £8.99
• Discount Code: AA10
• Syndicate Price Comparison

Watch enough trailers for Syndicate and you'd be forgiven for thinking it was DLC for Deus Ex: Human Revolution minus the gold paint on everything. It's a far cry from the old PC games as it's gone down the FPS route. Cool weaponry and fun co-op features make up for the linear campaign though. For under a tenner, you could do far worse.

Thanks to Snakeyes646 at HotUkDeals.

Updated Website Confirms Its Existence

It appears Starbreeze are rather busy at the moment. In addition to working on Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons and Payday 2, the Syndicate developer is also working on an upcoming FPS called Storm. The news came to light when Starbreeze updated their website last week, although exact details on the nature of the game are rather thin on the ground.

• What: Syndicate
• Where: HMV
• Current Price: £9.99
• Syndicate PS3 price comparison

While the price difference between HMV's offer and the next best available is just under £1.50, what makes this worth highlighting is the fact that the price has hit the £10 mark at long last, which is a much more agreeable price-point.

The single player story is both short and linear, not taking full advantage of the breach mechanics it proudly boasts, but the slick control mechanics & well produced visuals make Syndicate a pleasant if forgettable ride. The co-op is the saving grace, feeling much more like its predecessor as well as providing more open levels. Overall, I’d say it was certainly worth a look at the current price. Thanks to Covert Recon @ HUKD!

Coming To XBLA, PSN & Steam Next Year

505 Games has revealed that it will be publishing Starbreeze’s next game, a downloadable title called Brothers – A Tale Of Two Sons. Collaborating with Swedish filmmaker Josef Fares, players will experience the story of the titular siblings in their quest to find a cure for their ailing father. We have a teaser trailer, a few screenshots, and a snippet of info, after the jump.

• What: Chronicles Of Riddick: Assault On Dark Athena
• Where: GOG
• Current Price: £3.22
• Chronicles Of Riddick: Assault On Dark Athena Price Comparison

The original Chronicles Of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay blew us all away during the last console generation thanks to its blend of stealth, melee and good old fashioned shooting stuff in the face - which feels cathartic and unique despite not having aged as gracefully as you might have hoped. Assault On Dark Athena contains a graphical revamp of the first game and bolts on an extra campaign that’s not quite as good as the first, but the complete bundle is now nice and cheap thanks to a substantial reduction over at GOG.

Note that the multiplayer servers have been deactivated.

• What: Syndicate
• Where: The Hut ( PS3 | Xbox 360 )
• Current Price: £14.95
• Syndicate PS3 / Xbox 360 price comparison

Surprisingly, this is the best price we’ve seen for the console versions of the Syndicate reboot. The deal from The Hut beats out the next best price from ShopTo by just under £2.

Is it worth getting though? The single player story is both short and linear, not taking full advantage of the breach mechanics is proudly boasts, but the slick control mechanics & well produced visuals make it a pleasant if forgettable ride. The co-op is the saving grace, giving much more of a feel of its predecessor as well as providing more open levels. If you can find some friends to join in with you it’s worth a shot. Thanks to AK Gunners @ HUKD!

Starbreeze CEO Mikael Nermark has been emphatic in his proud support for the work he and his team did on the FPS reboot Syndicate, suggesting that there were always going to be those who disagreed with the decision to reboot the franchise on a fundamental level, and that those parties "were never ours to win".

• What: Syndicate
• Where: Gamefly
• Current Price: £8.99
• Voucher Code: HOTUK0611

Gamefly's HOTUK0611 voucher code brings Syndicate down to well under the £10 level, and it's by far and away the cheapest price around since Simply Games' £9.85 offering is out of stock. Which is arguably a good thing since the campaign is incredibly short despite being slick and atmospheric. Longevity stems from the excellent (if punishing) cooperative suite, which challenges you to treat the gunplay like an MMO rather than a traditional FPS: designate roles for each team member and you'll come out on top. Not quite (or anywhere near) the return to form I expected, but still a decent game at the price. Thanks to topsup at HotUKDeals, who found this well before I did.

• What: Syndicate
• Where: The Game Collection
• Current Price: £16.95
• Syndicate PS3 price comparison

This is the first time we’ve seen the console versions fall below the £20 mark, and to more of an agreeable price. £7 currently separates The Game Collection from the next best listing coming from Amazon and Play.

Is it worth getting though? The single player story is both short and linear, not taking full advantage of the breach mechanics is proudly boasts, but the slick control mechanics & well produced visuals make it a pleasant if forgettable ride. The co-op is the saving grace, giving much more of a feel of its predecessor as well as providing more open levels. If you can find some friends to join in with you it’s worth a shot. Thanks to goonertillidie @ HUKD!

Overkill Software has confirmed that a sequel to PC and PSN shooter Payday: The Heist is in the works. This follows the news that Syndicate and Chronicles Of Riddick developer Starbreeze plans to buy out the studio, while promising to "grow the first Payday" and nuture a second game.

Starbreeze's CEO Mikel Nermark has suggested that the turmoil of the UK retail market last month, centred around the troubles that swamped specialist retailer GAME, hurt the sales of Starbreeze's FPS reboot - Syndicate.

• What: Syndicate
• Where: Simply Games
• Current Price: £9.85
• Syndicate PC price comparison

...And further down it goes. Beating Gamersgate’s deal from last month, Simply Games have dropped the price of the PC version to the magic £10 mark. It provides a saving of a fiver over the next best offer from ShopTo.

Is it worth getting though? The single player story is both short and linear, not taking full advantage of the breach mechanics is proudly boasts, but the slick control mechanics & well produced visuals make it a pleasant if forgettable ride. The co-op is the saving grace, giving much more of a feel of its predecessor as well as providing more open levels. If you can find some friends to join in with you it’s worth a shot. Thanks to xruiner89 @ HUKD!

• What: Syndicate
• Where: Gamersgate
• Current Price: £17.48
• Syndicate PC price comparison

If you missed out on Origin’s recent deal, here’s another chance to get it for the same price. Gamersgate currently holds the best price for the PC version (cheers to sheds for the heads-up!) This deal beats the folks at Gamefly (formerly known as Direct2Drive) by just 1p, but after that price there is a saving of just over £2 for Starbreeze’s bold FPS reboot of the strategy classic.

Is it worth getting though? The single player story is both short and linear, not taking full advantage of the breach mechanics is proudly boasts, but the slick control mechanics & well produced visuals make it a pleasant if forgettable ride. The co-op is the saving grace, giving much more of a feel of its predecessor as well as providing more open levels. If you can find some friends to join in with you it’s worth a shot.