Helldivers Archives

AppWizard

January 10, 2026

As co-op hits like Peak and Schedule 1 thrive, a former champion is back to reclaim its crown, so get your crew ready

Deep Rock Galactic has an average rating of 97% on Steam from nearly 300,000 user reviews. Season 6, titled Relic of Hoxxes, introduces the Ossuary Depths biome and a new mission type, Heavy Excavation, focused on amber hunting. The seasonal event, Ossium Raid, features the Bone Collector, which players can track for treasures. A performance pass with unlockable items and a paid cosmetic DLC pack will also be available. Season 6 is set to release on January 29.

AppWizard

December 27, 2025

Welcome to the FPS vibe shift

The FPS landscape is transforming, with trends indicating a shift away from high skill ceilings and expensive cosmetics in multiplayer FPS games. Gamers are expressing dissatisfaction with overpriced cosmetics, leading franchises like Call of Duty to reconsider their strategies. Activision announced that Black Ops 7 will not carry over skins from previous games, focusing instead on thematic cosmetics. Competitive shooters are broadening their appeal to casual audiences, with games like The Finals, Rainbow Six Siege, Splitgate 2, and Overwatch 2 introducing new modes that reduce competitive intensity. Purely co-op shooters, such as Helldivers 2 and Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, continue to thrive, demonstrating lasting player engagement. Additionally, titles like Battlefield 6 and Black Ops 7 are being developed as premium products, indicating that gamers are willing to pay for complete, high-quality experiences rather than free-to-play models that lack content.

AppWizard

December 4, 2025

A 23GB Helldivers 2 Is Better Than A 154GB Helldivers 2

Helldivers 2 was initially reported to require 154GB of storage, aimed at accommodating older mechanical hard drives in PCs. However, analytics revealed that only 11% of players used HDDs, and the main cause of slowdowns was level generation rather than asset loading. In response, Arrowhead is testing a "slim" version of the game in public beta, which is 23GB, significantly reducing the storage requirement while maintaining gameplay integrity. This change allows players to install additional games, potentially fitting at least 13 indie city-builders in the space previously occupied by the original version.

AppWizard

December 3, 2025

Helldivers 2 devs slash install size from 154GB to 23GB, thanks to the help of PC port veterans — ditching HDD optimization, 85% size reduction accomplished by de-duplicating game data

Arrowhead Game Studios has reduced the size of their game Helldivers 2 by 85%, from approximately 154GB to 23GB, through collaboration with Nixxes Software and the use of data de-duplication techniques. This results in a storage saving of around 131GB.

AppWizard

December 3, 2025

Helldivers 2 cuts its install size from ‘~154GB to ~23GB’ in a beta you can opt into now, defeating liberty-hating storage reqs with ‘no functional differences’ between versions

In 2025, game file sizes have significantly increased, with many exceeding 100 or 200 GB. Arrowhead has reduced the installation size of Helldivers 2 by 85%, from approximately 154 GB to 23 GB, saving around 131 GB. They credited Sony's port-house, Nixxes, for their support but did not disclose specific methods. A public technical beta for the streamlined version is available on Steam, and players can opt in through the game's Properties menu. The reduction in file size will have minimal impact on load times, and there are no functional differences between the legacy and slim versions; all progress and purchases will carry over.

AppWizard

December 3, 2025

Helldivers 2 Dev Worked With Sony Studio Nixxes to Create a ‘Slim’ Version for PC That Reduces File Size From 154GB to 23GB

Arrowhead has optimized Helldivers 2 for PC users by collaborating with Nixxes to create a "slim" version that reduces the game's file size from 154GB to 23GB, a reduction of 131GB or 85%. This change is part of a public technical beta for PC players. Arrowhead assured that the smaller file size would not significantly impact loading times, with minimal increases for players using mechanical hard disk drives (HDDs). Real-world testing showed that loading times are more affected by level generation than asset loading. Recent data indicated that only 11% of players were using mechanical HDDs. After the beta phase, Arrowhead plans to make the slim version the default for all players and phase out the legacy version next year, coinciding with the release of the 5.0.0 patch that introduces new content.

AppWizard

December 3, 2025

In the nick of time, Helldivers 2 rolls out a “slim version” shrinking file sizes by a whopping 85% on PC: “It’s a low-risk way to save ~131GB of space on your drive”

Arrowhead Game Studios has reduced the file size of Helldivers 2 for PC by 85%, from 154GB to approximately 23GB. A public technical beta is currently underway, allowing select users to experience the new file size and provide feedback. Players can still matchmake with others and opt-out of the beta at any time. If successful, the slim version will become the standard, with plans to phase out the legacy version next year. The latest patch also includes balance changes and bug fixes, though some players are disappointed by the removal of the feature that allowed "Factory Striders" to be launched erratically.

AppWizard

December 3, 2025

Helldivers 2 on PC will now take up 85% less space thanks to reduced installation size

Arrowhead Studios has reduced the installation size of the PC version of Helldivers 2 to 23GB, down from 154GB, by optimizing asset management with Nixxes. This reduction involved eliminating duplicated assets, which previously aimed to enhance loading times for players using mechanical hard drives. The studio confirmed that the majority of loading time is due to level generation rather than asset loading, and the differences in loading times between the new and old versions are minimal. A "slim version" is currently available for testing, with plans to make it the default version after confirming stability. The legacy version is expected to be discontinued next year.

AppWizard

December 3, 2025

Helldivers 2’s new ‘slim’ version saves 131GB of space on your drive

The latest beta update for Helldivers 2 on Steam has reduced the game's installation size by approximately 85 percent, from around 154GB to just 23GB. This reduction was achieved through collaboration with Nixxes and involved completely de-duplicating game data. The developers aim to align the PC installation size more closely with console versions. They noted that the impact on load times would be minimal, estimating only a few seconds at most, as the previous larger file size was primarily due to duplication of game asset data. The technical public beta is now available for all PC users on Steam, and this optimized version will become the default once remaining issues are resolved.

AppWizard

December 3, 2025

New Helldivers 2 update just shaved 131GB off its PC file size with a “slim version” beta, and I’m ecstatic — here’s how to opt into the patch

Helldivers 2, launched in 2024, initially had a file size of 70GB, which increased to 154GB due to performance and technical issues. A recent update, Python Commandos Warbond, reduced the file size by 131GB to 23GB, an 85% decrease. This slim version is currently in testing and not the default; players must manually opt into it via Steam. The Xbox Series X|S and PS5 versions require 35-40GB of storage. The game is available on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5, with the PC version currently on sale for .99.