Returning to Helldivers 2 has been a delightful experience, rekindling my appreciation for what was undoubtedly one of the standout titles of 2024. Developer Arrowhead has elevated the original game into a grand spectacle, seamlessly blending precision with chaos in a way that is truly unparalleled. The introduction of new factions, including the Automatons and Illuminate alongside the familiar Terminids, has added layers of diversity to the gameplay. However, these updates have come with a significant increase in the game’s install size, particularly on PC.
Understanding the Size Surge
As noted by Brendan Armstrong, Arrowhead’s deputy technical director, the current install size for Helldivers 2 on PC has ballooned to approximately 150 GB, which is “roughly three times larger” than its console versions. This expansion is largely attributed to the necessity of duplicated data aimed at optimizing loading times for players using older hard drives, specifically mechanical HDDs. In contrast, the rapid access speeds of modern SSDs eliminate the need for such duplication, allowing for a more streamlined experience on consoles.
Armstrong poses a critical question regarding the future of optimization for these older drives: “How many Helldivers 2 players are still using mechanical HDDs?” While estimates suggest that around 12% of PC gamers might still rely on this outdated technology, the data remains unreliable, making it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. The challenge lies in balancing the experience for all players, as loading times for missions are dictated by the slowest member of a squad. Thus, even a single player on an older machine can impact the entire team’s experience.
Despite the trend in modern gaming towards mandating SSDs, Arrowhead is not yet ready to take that leap. Armstrong emphasizes that eliminating all duplication would lead to excessively long loading times for HDD users, a scenario they find unacceptable. However, he assures that the team is exploring compromises to improve installation size without significantly affecting loading times.
Future Optimizations
In the immediate future, Arrowhead plans to implement minor improvements in the next update by identifying and removing unused assets and unnecessary data. However, these gains may be offset by the addition of new content. Looking ahead, the team is considering bundling frequently used assets into specific groups that will be loaded based on the current mission or biome. While this approach may still result in longer load times for HDD players, Armstrong predicts these delays will remain under 30 seconds, which he describes as “unfortunate but unavoidable.”
Armstrong also cautions that this strategy could lead to a slight increase in RAM usage, as the system will load these ‘common data’ bundles, which may not always be fully utilized. He reassures players that Arrowhead is monitoring this risk closely and aims to enhance the engine to prevent unnecessary RAM usage. Beyond these adjustments, he notes that exploring data compression is a more complex and speculative endeavor.
While the idea of offering optional downloads for high-resolution textures is technically feasible, Armstrong clarifies that this is not natively supported by their engine and is not their primary focus unless other solutions fail to yield significant improvements.
Armstrong concludes by acknowledging the team’s commitment to addressing player concerns, stating that there are no straightforward solutions. As Helldivers 2 has reached the limits of acceptable duplicated data, the team is diligently evaluating the costs and trade-offs of their available options. For those still battling for Super Earth, it’s clear that having the right hardware—especially RAM—will enhance the gaming experience.
If you find yourself equipped to run Helldivers 2 but lack an SSD, consider sharing your hardware challenges with the PCGamesN community Discord server.
