Helldivers 2's substantial 2025 update, patch 01.002.101, is now live, introducing significant gameplay adjustments and bug fixes. This over 5GB patch extends the gas duration from spray weapons, reinstates emoting during flight or ragdolling, and implements numerous balance changes.
With the game approaching its first anniversary and the introduction of the Illuminate faction, speculation about future Galactic War narrative developments is rife. The update's considerable size hints at potential unannounced content additions beyond the documented changes.
A noteworthy, albeit bizarre, fix deserves mention:
Resolved a peculiar visual glitch affecting the Stalker's tongue (details best left unsaid).
Helldivers 2 Update 01.002.101 Patch Notes:
Balance Adjustments:
- General: Increased spray weapon gas effect duration to 10 seconds (from 6). Implemented a despawn timer for Illuminate dropship wreckage to prevent path obstructions.
- Helldiver: Jogging while carrying two-handed items (barrels, SEAF Artillery Rounds) is now permitted.
- FRV: Grenade and stratagem deployment while leaning from the FRV is now enabled. FRV handling, particularly cornering, has been refined.
- Sidearms: Increased starting magazines to 3 (from 2) and spare magazines to 5 (from 4).
- Stratagem Support Weapons (TX-41 Sterilizer): Eliminated crosshair drift recoil and reduced camera climb recoil. Increased spray weapon gas effect duration to 10 seconds (from 6).
- Armor Passives (Siege Ready): A bug granting extra ammo to all weapons (not just primaries as intended) remains unfixed for further evaluation. The Armory description will be updated accordingly.
- Backpacks (AX/TX-13 "Guard Dog"): Reworked for improved effectiveness, focusing on gas-based mechanics. Ammo conservation is prioritized by targeting only non-gassed enemies. Targeting logic prevents excessive roaming, originating from the Helldiver's position. Targeting range increased to 20m (from 10m). Increased spray weapon gas effect duration to 10 seconds (from 6).
- Stratagems (MD-6 Anti-Personnel Minefield, MD-I4 Incendiary Mines, MD-17 Anti-Tank Mines): Cooldown reduced to 120 seconds (from 180). Damage increased significantly. Mine deployment spread widened by 20% to reduce chain explosions.
- SH-20 Ballistic Shield Backpack: Now blocks melee attacks until destroyed.
Bug Fixes:
- High Priority: Emoting is re-enabled during falls/ragdolling (without affecting fall damage). Illuminate spawner ship shields now take impact grenade damage. Collision gaps within Illuminate spawner ships are fixed. Health packs fully restore stims. High-damage weapons now detonate Hellbombs.
- Crash Fixes: Numerous crash fixes related to mission aborts, hot-joining, emotes, fires, drop-in sequences, reloading, armor changes, tutorial completion, extraction, projectile fire, carryable objectives, text language changes, and SG-20 Halt reloading.
- Social & Matchmaking: Improved matchmaking for regional proximity. Matching with similar difficulty lobbies is now prioritized. Chat history persistence is fixed.
- Weapons & Stratagems: Emplacement usage while using text chat is improved. Arc weapon accuracy against Impaler tentacles is improved. E/AT-12 Anti-Tank Emplacement armor penetration tag is corrected. Stratagem turrets no longer target Illuminate Tesla Towers. Heat weapon visual progress bar issues are resolved. Melee weapon physics are adjusted. B-1 Supply Pack stim sharing is restored.
- FRV: FRV reinforcement prevents minor impacts from causing explosions. FRV camera improvements enhance visuals and prevent underground sticking. Reduced rooftop drops on FRV call-ins. FRV keybindings now support non-QWERTY keyboards. Enemy launch distances from FRV impacts are adjusted.
- Helldiver: Fixed issues with ragdolling into FRVs, climbing/vaulting over cars, ground sliding after blasts, stuck prone gliding animations, and missing pickup animations.
- Enemies: Resolved a visual bug with the Stalker's tongue. Enemy reactions to missed shots are improved.
- Miscellaneous: Various audio, civilian pathing, visual (floating heads), and damage calculation fixes.
Known Issues:
- High Priority: Black box terminal clipping, DSSP pathfinding, Evacuate Colonists mission pathfinding, Dolby Atmos issues on PS5.
- Medium Priority: Pelican-1 extraction issues, explosive ragdolling, cape display issues, "This is Democracy" emote spacewalk bug, Guard Dog ammo display, Barrager Tank stats, LAS-5 Scythe zoom, charge-up weapon firing rate issues.
This update significantly enhances the Helldivers 2 experience, addressing player concerns and introducing welcome balance changes.
