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Helldivers 2 players on PC can now reclaim a large amount of storage. Arrowhead introduced a new technical beta on Steam, and it drops the game’s install size from about 154GB to only 23GB. As a result, players gain an 85% reduction without losing any features or content.
Helldivers! Ready to save storage space on your PC?
We’ve worked together with our friends at @ArrowheadGS to reduce the @helldivers2 PC installation size from ~154GB to ~23GB.
Available now as a public technical beta on Steam!👇 https://t.co/C5fo3K20Lv
— Nixxes Software (@NixxesSoftware) December 2, 2025
A Major Reduction for Modern PC Storage
Modern PC games continue to grow in size, and many now exceed 100GB. However, the latest Helldivers 2 update moves in the opposite direction. The PC installation now becomes even smaller than the 35GB console version.
Arrowhead also explained that the team removed duplicated data, which produced a total saving of around 131GB. With this change, the game now aligns more closely with the studio’s long-term optimisation goals.
Why the Original PC Version Needed More Space
Originally, the PC build stored extra asset data to support players using mechanical hard drives. At the time, this approach helped maintain consistent loading behaviour. Later, the team discovered that level generation caused most of the loading delay, not asset access.
Because of that finding, Arrowhead streamlined the data and kept performance steady for all types of drives. Consequently, both HDD and SSD users can now benefit from the smaller install size.
How Players Can Try the Slim Version
Players who want the slim build can join the public technical beta on Steam. Once they select the slim option, the update activates immediately. From there, they gain a much lighter installation while still accessing all existing content. Furthermore, the beta gives the team more opportunities to test the new structure before it becomes the default version.
A Smooth Transition With No Gameplay Changes
Arrowhead confirmed that the slim version offers the same gameplay and features as the legacy build. Players keep their progression, their purchases, and their accounts. Additionally, both builds connect to the same galactic war, so no one needs to change how they play.
Load times may shift by a few seconds, yet overall performance remains stable. After the beta period, the studio plans to move the slim build into the main branch for everyone. For more updates on the game, follow their official X account.
