installation size Archives

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

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.

Winsage

November 3, 2025

Windows 7 Shrinks to 69MB: A Minimalist’s Achievement

Enthusiast @XenoPanther has reduced a running copy of Windows 7 to just 69 megabytes, significantly smaller than the typical installation size of tens of gigabytes. This stripped-down version is mostly non-functional, lacking essential system libraries and graphical interface elements, but can still load the desktop and run simple console applications. Minimal versions of operating systems are useful for virtual machines and test environments. Microsoft previously attempted to create a lightweight version called Windows Server Nano, which was around 400 megabytes. Despite Windows 7 being outdated and no longer receiving security updates, the minimal file set can still run older applications.

Winsage

October 27, 2025

De-Enshittifing Windows 11 Version 25H2: Tiny11 Builder ⭐

Tiny11 Builder is a PowerShell-based tool designed to create a custom version of the Windows 11 ISO, allowing for a streamlined installation compared to the standard version. It operates as a script but has limitations in customization unless users have technical expertise. Users can reinstall applications excluded from the installation image, but this is not possible with Tiny11coremaker, which removes essential features like Windows Defender and Windows Update. The creator, NTDEV, has improved Tiny11 Builder by disabling telemetry and enhancing the removal process for Microsoft Edge. Tiny11 Builder aims to reduce the installation size and resource consumption of Windows, making it suitable for older PCs. To use Tiny11 Builder, users must download the latest Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft and the Tiny11 Builder ZIP file from GitHub.

AppWizard

October 4, 2025

Why does Helldivers 2 have such a bloated install size on PC? Old hard drives, says dev

Helldivers 2 has an installation size of approximately 150GB, primarily due to the presence of duplicate files, which include weapon models and environmental textures. This redundancy has led to excessive storage consumption on PC, while the PS5 and Xbox versions are about one-third the size. The decision to include multiple file copies was made to address slow loading times on traditional hard drives, as the mechanical HDD's seek time creates performance bottlenecks. The developers are exploring alternatives to reduce file size, such as removing duplicates or offering 4K textures as optional downloads, but upgrading to SSDs is not a feasible solution for many players due to rising costs.

AppWizard

October 4, 2025

‘We’re Taking Your Concerns Very Seriously but There Are No Easy Solutions’ — Arrowhead Explains Why the Helldivers 2 Installation Size Is So Big on PC

Arrowhead Studios is addressing concerns about the installation size of Helldivers 2 on PC, which is 150GB—three times larger than the console version. This discrepancy is due to data duplication and limitations of mechanical hard drives (HDDs). The use of HDDs results in longer loading times because of the mechanical process involved in retrieving data. To reduce these loading times, Arrowhead has opted to duplicate certain data files, a practice unnecessary for games on Solid State Drives (SSDs). Approximately 12% of PC gamers still use mechanical HDDs, impacting loading times for missions. The team is working on reducing installation size by removing unused assets and aims to optimize RAM usage and apply data compression in future updates.

AppWizard

October 4, 2025

As Helldivers 2’s install size swells to monstrous levels, Arrowhead admits old hardware is the problem

Helldivers 2 has an install size of approximately 150 GB on PC, which is about three times larger than its console versions. This increase is due to duplicated data for optimizing loading times on older mechanical HDDs. Arrowhead's deputy technical director, Brendan Armstrong, noted that around 12% of PC gamers may still use these older drives, complicating optimization efforts. The team plans to implement minor improvements by removing unused assets in the next update but acknowledges that new content may offset these gains. Future strategies include bundling frequently used assets for specific missions, which may still lead to longer load times for HDD users, expected to remain under 30 seconds. There are considerations for data compression and optional high-resolution texture downloads, but these are not the primary focus. The team is committed to addressing player concerns while balancing installation size and loading times.