Split-screen on PC

Payday: The Heist

Up to 4 players on one PC, with controllers or keyboard and mouse.

4Verified handler

Handler “PAYDAY” by Talos91, version 6

What works

With Nucleus Co-op, up to 4 players can play Payday: The Heist together on one PC, each in their own part of the screen, with controllers or keyboard and mouse. The free community handler “PAYDAY” by Talos91 does the setup and was checked by hub moderators: version 6, updated 20 Jan 2022. Payday: The Heist is a shooter game from 2011.

Players4
ControllersSupported
Keyboard and mouseSupported
Several keyboards and miceNot supported
Hub moderatorsVerified

How to play Payday: The Heist split screen on PC

Get Nucleus Co-op
Download Nucleus Co-op, free for Windows 10 and 11, and unzip it into its own folder, for example C:\NucleusCo-op. There is no installer.
Keep it out of Program Files, your user folder and OneDrive.
Download Nucleus Co-op
Install the Payday: The Heist handler
In Nucleus Co-op, search the Hub for Payday: The Heist and install its handler, or download the handler file from this page and drop it on the Nucleus window. Then show Nucleus where Payday: The Heist is installed.
Download the handler file (.nc)
Take a seat
Each player presses a button on their own controller to join and takes a spot on the screen. Pick a layout that fits your players.
Launch and connect
Press Launch: Nucleus opens one copy of Payday: The Heist per player and lays the windows out on your screen. Then link them in game, usually one player hosts a LAN or online session and the others join it. The handler notes say how.

What you need

A Windows 10 or 11 PC
Nucleus Co-op runs on Windows only. System requirements
Payday: The Heist for Windows
Installed on that PC. Nucleus starts every player's window from that one install.
Nucleus Co-op, free
With .NET Framework 4.7.2 or later and the Visual C++ 2015–2022 runtimes (x86 and x64). Download
Something to play with
One controller per player; one player can use the keyboard and mouse. Controllers
A PC that can run 4 copies
Each player runs their own copy of Payday: The Heist, so the PC carries several times the usual load. Lower the graphics settings if it struggles. Performance tips
A multiplayer mode
Nucleus links the windows through the game's own LAN or online mode; the handler takes care of it.

Handler notes

IMPORTANT: You need to add gamepad support to your main game with this mod first: https://steamcommunity.com/groups/dahm4pd/discussions/3/490123197956419203/

Read the handler notes in the UI. Better than the bloated PayDay2. If you get crashes reduce graphics in-game and disable anti-cheat in the game options, assign different cores to each instance using task manager if you still get crashes.

Authors and Contributors of this handler: Talos91 from the Split Screen Dreams Discord.

About Payday: The Heist

PAYDAY: The Heist is an action filled first person shooter that lets players take on the role of a hardened career criminal executing intense, dynamic heists in constant pursuit of the next “big score”. Load out with an array of weaponry and equipment. Navigate six high-stake heists with three other live or A.I. Co-Op partners in crime.

Summary from IGDB

Payday: The Heist screenshots

Version history

v6Current
kb focus fix
20 Jan 2022VerifiedDownload (1.7 KB)
v5
notes
12 Jan 2022VerifiedDownload (1.6 KB)
v4
Crashes fixes
8 Jan 2022VerifiedDownload (1.6 KB)
v3
updated for r5 and better keyboard support.
6 May 2021VerifiedDownload (1.5 KB)