Helldivers 2, the much-anticipated co-op shooter from Arrowhead Game Studios, has faced its share of challenges since its launch in 2024. Following a series of performance and technical issues on PC, the developers made the strategic decision to delay new content updates in favor of addressing these critical problems. As a result, many of the most pressing issues were resolved in the weeks that followed. However, one significant concern remained: the game’s ever-expanding file size, which ballooned from an initial 70GB to an astonishing 154GB. This increase posed a considerable challenge for players striving to manage their hard drive space effectively.
Fortunately, a recent update has brought relief to players grappling with storage constraints. The latest patch, dubbed Python Commandos Warbond, has successfully reduced the game’s file size by an impressive 131GB, bringing it down to a mere 23GB. This reduction translates to an astonishing 85% decrease, far exceeding expectations and making it easier for players to keep the game installed alongside other titles. For comparison, the Xbox Series X|S and PS5 versions currently require between 35-40GB of storage.
It is essential to note that this “slim version” of Helldivers 2 is currently in a testing phase and is not yet the default version. Players interested in experiencing the reduced file size must opt into it manually. This can be accomplished by navigating to the game in their Steam Library, selecting Properties, clicking on the Betas tab, and choosing the “prodslim” option from the dropdown menu. Should any issues arise, players can revert to the larger default version by selecting “prodlegacy,” ensuring that their progress remains intact. Arrowhead has confirmed that there are no functional differences between the two versions aside from the installation size.
A dream come true for PC Helldivers 2 players
This update is indeed a welcome change for PC players, allowing friends to keep Helldivers 2 readily available without the need to uninstall it for other games. Previously, limited hard drive space forced many to make tough choices about which games to keep installed. Now, with the significantly reduced file size, players can enjoy new content updates without the hassle of managing storage.
It raises questions, however, as to why Arrowhead did not conduct specific tests with Helldivers 2 before duplicating assets to accommodate HDD users, especially considering that only a small fraction of players—approximately 11%—utilized older hard drives. While it is unfortunate that many PC fans dealt with an unnecessarily large file size for an extended period, the resolution brings a sense of relief, allowing one of the best PC games to fit comfortably within storage limits.
For those yet to join the Galactic War, Helldivers 2 is available on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5 for .99. Currently, the PC version is on sale for .39 at Loaded, while the PS5 edition is priced at .99 at GameStop. Unfortunately, there are no discounts available for the Xbox version at this time.
