FAMAS

Lore & Background

The FAMAS was developed in the 1970s by the Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Étienne to replace aging post-war rifles in French service. Its defining trait is the bullpup layout: the bolt-action group and magazine sit behind the trigger, shortening the weapon's overall profile without sacrificing barrel length. Decades of service across French and allied forces made it one of the most recognizable assault rifles of the late twentieth century.

In the Payday world, the FAMAS is the sort of weapon a crew acquires when they need something dependable, semi-military, and easy to conceal in a van. It is not the flashiest gun in the shop, but it is the one a veteran thief reaches for when the plan calls for controlled, sustained fire through a bank vault, a jewelry store, or a government building. Its compact frame lets the wielder pivot quickly in narrow hallways while still delivering a full 5.56 mm round to target.

Fans of the series often note that the FAMAS embodies the Payday philosophy: you do not need the most exotic hardware, just the right tool, a solid crew, and the nerve to walk in and walk out.

In Their Own Story

The elevator dings on the fourteenth floor. Hoxton steps out, mask pulled low, and racks the FAMAS's charging handle with a dry metallic click. The bullpup's compact frame fits snugly against his shoulder as he sweeps the corridor—no long barrel to snag on the doorframe, just a short, dense block of polymer and steel. Three floors up, the guards are still arguing about lunch. He lets the full-auto chatter paint a line of sparks across the ceiling tiles, then drops to semi and places two rounds center mass. The magazine is light in his hand, the recoil a familiar nudge. He checks the count, tucks the rifle under his arm, and walks toward the vault door. The job is almost boring. That is exactly how he likes it.

Reader's Guide

FAMAS — Assault Rifle

The FAMAS is a bullpup assault rifle chambered in 5.56×45 mm NATO. It offers a full-auto fire mode with a moderate rate of fire and a recoil pattern that is manageable at mid-range. Its compact overall length makes it well suited for interior maps with tight corridors, stairwells, and close-quarters encounters.

Attachments and customization follow the standard Payday 2 assault-rifle attachment tree: optics, muzzles, magazines, grips, and underbarrel options can be slotted to tailor the weapon to a playstyle. Players often pair it with a compensator to tame vertical kick and a larger magazine for sustained engagements.

Unlock: The FAMAS is available for purchase in the in-game Weapon Shop using cash earned from heists. It is not a character-exclusive or mission-reward weapon, so any crew member can buy it once they have saved enough.

Practical role: In a heist loadout the FAMAS fills the mid-range assault-rifle niche. It is not the highest-damage rifle in the slot, but its compact size, reliable full-auto, and forgiving recoil make it a strong default for players who prefer a single versatile rifle over swapping between a shotgun and a long gun. Pair it with a sidearm and a melee weapon, and you have a clean, no-fuss loadout for most standard heists.

Did You Know?

• The name FAMAS is an acronym for 'Fusil d'Assaut de la Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Étienne,' the French arms factory that designed it.
• Its bullpup layout places the magazine behind the trigger guard, which is why the grip sits in the middle of the stock rather than at the rear.
• The FAMAS served as the standard infantry rifle of the French Armed Forces for roughly three decades, from the late 1970s into the 2000s.
• In the Payday games, the FAMAS's compact bullpup profile is a deliberate design choice that mirrors its real-world advantage: a short overall length that is easier to maneuver indoors.