PC gamers who’ve been rationing hard drive space can breathe a sigh of relief: Arrowhead Studios has dramatically reduced the installation size of *Helldivers 2*. The popular co-op shooter, wich previously required over 150GB of storage, now boasts an approximately 23GB footprint thanks to a new beta update released on Steam.This critically important reduction addresses long-standing community concerns about the game’s large file size and aims to make it more accessible to players with limited storage capacity [[2]].
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PC gamers rejoice: the storage demands of Helldivers 2 have been dramatically reduced. Arrowhead Studios announced a new, “slimmed-down” version of the game that slashes the PC install size by 85%, freeing up a substantial 131GB of hard drive space, according to a report from GameSpot.
Since its launch in 2024, the game’s hefty file size has been a frequent source of complaints from the community, significantly exceeding the storage requirements of the console versions by nearly 22GB. Arrowhead explained in a recent blog post that reducing the PC footprint was a long-term goal, and with assistance from Nixxes Software, they were able to achieve it “much faster than anticipated.”
The development team also considered players using traditional hard disk drives (HDDs). Arrowhead stated that the change may add a few seconds to loading times for those with HDDs. The studio had previously been concerned that removing redundant data from the PC version might significantly increase HDD load times, but their current data indicates this isn’t the case, as most of Helldivers 2’s loading time is attributed to level generation rather than asset loading. This optimization highlights the ongoing efforts to improve game performance across a wider range of hardware configurations.
However, accessing the storage savings requires a manual opt-in to a new “beta” version on Steam. Here’s how to update:
How to Update to the Slimmed-Down Version of Helldivers 2
- Right-click on Helldivers 2 in your Steam library.
- Select “Properties” from the dropdown menu.
- Choose the “Betas” tab.
- From the “Select a beta participation” dropdown, select “prod_slim.”
- Close the dialogue box, and Helldivers 2 will automatically update.
Arrowhead noted that once beta users confirm stability, the slimmed-down version will become the default. Players will have a limited time to revert to the older “legacy” version, but the team plans to discontinue long-term support for it, citing minimal differences in load times as the reason to avoid adding extra development overhead.
Alongside the PC file size optimization, the latest “Python Commando” Warbond is now live, adding new weaponry to the Helldivers arsenal, including a flamethrower drone, a mini-gun, and a chainsaw sword. The Warbond was previously delayed to allow Arrowhead to prioritize addressing bugs and technical issues reported by players, including those related to the game’s file size.
In other Helldivers news, a film adaptation of the franchise is in development, with Justin Lin, known for his work on the Fast & Furious film series, set to direct.
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