Payday 2 Motion Sickness: Why It Happens & What Helps
Payday 2 is a first-person co-op shooter, and its developers have added several comfort options over the years: a head bobbing toggle, a chromatic aberration toggle, a motion dot and a field of view slider that goes up to 100 since Update 242.1. The developer posts and update notes opened for this page cover the PC game.
PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch · first-person · Has comfort settings · Player-reported motion-sickness risk: commonly reported by motion-sensitive players.
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
Risk levels summarise what passengers and riders commonly report, not measured testing.
Key facts
- Payday 2 runs on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch.
- The camera is first-person.
- Player reports place it in the moderate band for motion sickness.
- The game ships a full set of comfort settings.
- 4 specific settings are listed on this page, starting with Use Acceleration Camera Effect (head bobbing).
Before your next session with Payday 2: Dizzout runs on your phone: pause, move your headphones over and press play, with relief in about 90 seconds.Starts in your browser · works with any headphones
Calm game nausea. Get your personalized Dizzout plan. Paid subscription for full access.
On your phone? Scan to start there.
Why Payday 2 can trigger motion sickness
In Payday 2 the camera bobs as you move unless you turn that off. OVERKILL says some players cannot play first-person shooters for long because of motion sickness, and it added the motion dot for them. An earlier OVERKILL beta post said some players felt light nausea at the field of view the game had then.
- Head bobbing, the acceleration camera effect that moves the view as you walk
- Chromatic aberration, which you can switch off
- The fixed field of view from the beta, which OVERKILL said gave some players light nausea
Before your next session with Payday 2, have Dizzout ready
Calm game nausea
Dizzout runs on your phone: pause, move your headphones over and press play, with relief in about 90 seconds. It plays precisely calibrated audio through any headphones you already own, wired or Bluetooth. Free to download.
Get your personalized Dizzout plan. Paid subscription for full access.
30,000+ travelers in 30+ countries · How we count
On your phone? Scan to start there.
Comparing apps first? See how the motion sickness apps compare
Comfort settings in Payday 2
Payday 2 ships a full set of comfort settings.
| Setting | Where | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Use Acceleration Camera Effect (head bobbing) | Options > Video > Advanced | Off |
| Chromatic Aberration | Options > Video > Advanced | Off |
| Motion dot | In-game settings | On. OVERKILL says you can pick from a few sizes and colors, so choose one you can see against the scene |
| Field of View | In-game settings | Raise it toward the top of the slider. Update 242.1 raised the maximum to 100 and added a numeric display |
One guide explains these settings for every game: how field of view, motion blur, head bob and camera shake trigger motion sickness.
Know someone who gets motion sick?
Send them the app that helps stop it, drug-free, in about 90 seconds, works with any headphones. Free to download.
What helps beyond the settings
- Turn the motion dot on, and pick a size and color you can see
- Turn off Use Acceleration Camera Effect and Chromatic Aberration in Options, Video, Advanced
- Raise the field of view, and play in a brighter room or sit farther from the screen, as OVERKILL suggests
The fixes people reach for once they step away from the screen are covered separately, with the trials attached: the remedy verdicts.
Frequently asked questions
Does Payday 2 have a motion sickness option?
Yes. OVERKILL added a motion dot in Update 217: a single static point at the middle of the screen, with a few sizes and colors to pick from. The post does not name the menu.
How do I turn off head bobbing in Payday 2?
OVERKILL added an option called Use Acceleration Camera Effect under Options, Video, Advanced. It turns the acceleration camera effect, also known as head bobbing, on or off.
Can I raise the field of view in Payday 2?
Yes. Sidetrack Games' Update 242.1 notes say the field of view can now be increased up to 100, and that the slider now has a numeric display.
Other game motion-sickness guides
Sources & further reading
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payday_2
- https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/218620/view/4237326104315988407
- https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/218620/view/919043658994720861
- https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/218620/view/3819571572130125111
- https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/218620/view/1823191198602382
- https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/218620/view/1478591738299563149
Your next question, probably
Can you build tolerance?
Graded exposure, honestly assessed, so you can keep playing
Not your question? Is it your screen or your headset?
Based on publicly reported player experiences and each game's documented settings, as of October 2026. Settings menus change with updates, so check your version. Game names are trademarks of their respective owners; Dizzout is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. Motion-sickness sensitivity varies by person, so this is informational, not a game review or a substitute for a doctor's advice.