Arrowhead, the developer behind the popular co-op third-person shooter Helldivers 2, has made significant strides in optimizing the game for PC users. Responding to feedback regarding the game’s substantial installation size, Arrowhead has collaborated with Nixxes, a specialist in PC porting owned by Sony, to create a “slim” version that dramatically reduces the file size.
File Size Reduction
Previously, Helldivers 2 required a hefty 154GB of storage space on PC. However, thanks to the recent updates, this size has been trimmed down to a mere 23GB, resulting in a remarkable reduction of 131GB, or 85%. This change comes as part of a public technical beta that allows PC players to opt in and experience the benefits firsthand.
In a communication on Steam, Arrowhead reassured players that the transition to a smaller file size would not significantly impact loading times. They noted that for the minority of players still utilizing mechanical hard disk drives (HDDs), the increase in loading times was minimal, with only a few seconds added in the worst-case scenarios.
Loading Time Insights
Initially, Arrowhead had expressed concerns that the reduction in file size could lead to a tenfold increase in loading times, a cautionary measure based on industry standards. However, their real-world testing revealed that their worst-case projections were overly conservative. The studio clarified that the actual loading times are primarily influenced by level generation rather than asset loading, which occurs concurrently with the loading process.
Recent data indicated that only about 11% of players were using mechanical HDDs during the last week, confirming Arrowhead’s earlier estimates. This insight has allowed the team to refine their understanding of loading dynamics within Helldivers 2, leading to a more accurate assessment of performance across different hardware configurations.
Future Plans
Once the beta testing phase concludes without any issues, Arrowhead plans to roll out the slim version of Helldivers 2 to all players, making it the default version. The legacy version is expected to be phased out sometime next year. This streamlined version coincides with the release of the game’s significant 5.0.0 patch, which introduces the jungle-themed Python Commandos Warbond, featuring several fan-requested weapons, including a minigun.
