Helldivers 2 just freed 131GB from your PC — but there’s a catch

Helldivers 2 on PC just lost 131GB – and you’ll have to opt into a beta to get it

What actually changes for players: Helldivers 2’s monstrous PC install has been shrunk from roughly 154GB to 23GB thanks to a new “slim” build (Steam beta “prod_slim”) delivered by Arrowhead Studios with help from Nixxes Software. That’s an 85% reduction – and yes, it matters. If you’ve been juggling SSD space or putting off installing the game on a second machine, this is the kind of practical patch that improves daily life for players, not just PR talking points.

• Install size slashed: ~154GB → 23GB via Steam beta prod_slim (131GB reduction).
• How to get it: You must opt into the Steam beta to apply the slim build – Arrowhead will make it default only after player confirmation.
• Performance trade-offs: HDD users may see tiny increases in load times, but Arrowhead says level generation—not asset loading—dominates load time costs.
• New content: The Python Commando Warbond arrives with flame drone, minigun, chainsword and other cosmetics/weapons.

Why this matters — and why it took so long

This mattered because, since launch, Helldivers 2’s PC footprint felt out of step with the console editions (around ~22GB). That disparity became a recurring irritant for the community and creators who need multiple installs. The fix is practical rather than flashy: Arrowhead removed duplicated data and reorganized files to make the PC build reasonable.

It’s worth flagging that Nixxes Software was involved — a studio with a solid pedigree on PC engineering. Their participation explains why this change landed cleanly: Nixxes knows how to trim packs, consolidate assets and keep PC-specific quirks under control. Credit where it’s due. Still, it’s fair to ask why a game released with such an outsized install didn’t ship leaner from day one.

How to get the slim build (step-by-step)

• Open Steam and find Helldivers 2 in your library.
• Right-click the game and choose “Properties.”
• Go to the “Betas” tab.
• From the “Beta Participation” dropdown, select “prod_slim.”
• Close the dialog and allow Steam to update — your install will shrink.

Arrowhead says the studio will flip the slim build to default once enough players confirm there are no issues. They’ll keep the legacy build available for a short window afterward, but long-term support for the old version is off the table — maintaining both would be an “extra burden” on development resources.

The trade-offs: load times and trust

There’s a small catch: HDD players might see a few seconds added to load times. Arrowhead pushed back on earlier fears that deduplication would dramatically slow HDD experience by collecting data showing level generation is the bigger bottleneck. That’s a reasonable explanation, but I’ll believe “no meaningful difference” once I’ve seen it across a range of older rigs. This is the sort of thing where community QA and content creators’ benchmarks will matter more than studio statements.

Also, the requirement to opt into a beta creates friction. Casual players may miss the change, and some users worried about mods or backward compatibility will want to wait — Arrowhead’s limited grace period for the legacy version addresses this, but only briefly.

New Warbond — and a reminder about priorities

Alongside the slimming, Arrowhead released the Python Commando Warbond: a package that adds a flame-spewing drone, minigun, chainsword and other kit. Notably, Arrowhead delayed the Warbond to prioritize tackling bugs and technical issues — a sensible move. Cosmetic and monetized drops look a little better when the core game behaves.

One fun aside: Sony’s Helldivers movie recently found a director in Justin Lin. It’s a weird, Hollywood-sized carrot for the franchise — and a reminder Helldivers is now both a popular co-op shooter and a brand with commercial momentum. That momentum should ideally flow back into better support and polish for the game players are actually playing.

TL;DR

Helldivers 2’s PC install has been dramatically reduced from ~154GB to 23GB via a Steam beta. It’s a practical, much-needed change made possible with Nixxes’ help. Expect a tiny load-time trade-off for HDD users and a short window where the legacy build remains available, but overall this is a major quality-of-life win for PC players — now go free Super Earth without eating your SSD.