Helldivers 2 File Size Slashed By 85% On PC | How To Download The Streamlined Version?
Posted: Dec 04, 2025 Views: 371
The evolution of the gaming industry means that both developers and players are no longer satisfied with simple content, but are pursuing richer gameplay and storylines. However, this also means that games require increasingly more memory.
The principle that larger games require more storage space is essentially correct. The problem lies in the fact that some game files seem excessively large, severely impacting your ability to play other games or the normal operation of your device.
Take Helldivers 2 as an example. This third-person shooter, released in 2024, received considerable attention from players before its release as a sequel. Although some issues arose afterward, they were all fixed, except for the excessive memory requirements.
From its initial 70GB release, Helldivers 2 now occupies over 150GB of space on your PC! Many players have been criticizing this, saying they simply don't understand what the developers have been doing.
Fortunately, as 2025 draws to a close, Helldivers 2 has finally addressed this issue, reducing the game's size by an astonishing 85%! In other words, Helldivers 2 now only requires 23GB of free space to play!
So what are the details, and will the streamlined version run normally? We'll provide a detailed explanation below.

When Does This Change Be Available?
After the release of Python Commandos Warbond on December 2nd, the game received the good news of a size reduction through a concurrent patch.
However, it's currently still in the testing phase and not a default installation option. This means you'll need to decide whether to enable the streamlined version based on your needs, or continue playing as before.
Of course, if the streamlined version of Helldivers 2 runs smoothly for a period and player feedback is positive, the development team may later make it the standard version for new players to install directly, since everyone wants to save storage space.
How To Get The Streamlined Version Of Helldivers 2?
If you want to experience what the 23GB PC version of Helldivers 2 is like right now, follow these steps:
- 1. Open your Steam, find and right-click Helldivers 2 in Library.
- 2. Select Properties from the pop-up menu, then click Betas tab in the pop-up window.
- 3. In Beta Participation dropdown, select prod_slim to download and install the streamlined patch, allowing you to enjoy the game while freeing up your storage space.
Note that this operation method and file size change are only for PC players, as Helldivers 2 only requires approximately 35-40GB of storage space on Xbox Series X|S and PS5 platforms. This is likely the main reason for the constant complaints from PC players.
If you experience a poor experience or encounter frequent bugs after downloading the streamlined version, you can return and select prod_legacy to revert to the older version.
How Was This Change Implemented?
Since it's possible to streamline the files, it suggests that the development team was either too lazy to implement it before, or they were constantly searching for the best way to reduce the file size without affecting the game's performance on PC.
In short, this plan succeeded because previously, after each update, the developers would copy all game resource files and then gradually de-duplicate them. However, they now realized this was unnecessary.
The original intention was to ensure faster loading times for players using older hard drives, aiming to keep pace with players using high-speed SSDs. However, this consideration was based on general industry data.
Therefore, after internal testing at Helldivers 2, the developers found that, at least for their own game, the reduction in file size had at most a few extra seconds on loading time, making reducing storage space usage relatively straightforward.
While it's regrettable that the development team didn't discover this sooner, forcing most players to endure overly bloated game files for so long, it's good that the problem is solved.
Is The Streamlined Version Reliable?
Since the download option for this version has only been available for a short time, there are currently no objective and comprehensive reviews from the player community. However, most players at least welcome the initiative itself.
Frankly, the possibility of bugs appearing after streamlining cannot be ruled out, but no game, even the original Helldivers 2, is immune to problems. As long as the frequency of bugs isn't too high and they can be fixed promptly, it's all worthwhile.
If you don't only like Helldivers 2, you'll inevitably want to try new games, but limited storage space means you have to temporarily uninstall older games while downloading new ones - the changes in Helldivers 2 suggest this situation is likely to disappear.
This not only makes you more willing to try Helldivers 2 but also helps expand the audience for other games from another perspective, because the extra space means you can download as many games as you previously couldn't fit.
Can Other Games Do This?
Since Helldivers 2 has set a precedent, if subsequent player testing proves that the streamlined version isn't too problematic, then other large games on the market, at least those similar to Helldivers 2, could try to follow suit.
Although this might mean developers need to invest more time and effort, making games better serve you is what they should be doing. While more memory for players may bring more competition, healthy competition is essential.
In short, this approach demonstrates that Helldivers 2 consistently prioritizes player experience and feedback, striving to attract and retain players through game optimization. This can only benefit the game's long-term development.
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