Delayed Helldivers 2 Update is Coming Packed with Performance Fixes

Arrowhead Game Studios has announced a delay for the next major update for its smash-hit co-op shooter, Helldivers 2. But fear not, this delay comes with a silver lining: the team is using the extra time to roll out a massive wave of optimizations, shifting their focus from new content to tackling the game’s nagging technical issues. Finally!

Why the Delay?

The update, originally slated for release early this week, hit a snag due to a last-minute “certification issue,” according to the studio. The development team is working hard to resolve the problem and aims to deliver the patch by the end of this week. They’ve stated that staff are prepared to work through the weekend if necessary, though there’s a small chance the issue could push the release into next week.

New Content on Hold as Optimization Takes Priority

Arrowhead reiterated their earlier promise to delay new content drops, including Warbonds, to go all-in on fixing performance problems, bugs, and balance issues. This decision has been widely praised by the community, especially following recent updates that saw the game’s PC file size balloon to over 140 GB and an increase in performance complaints.

In a move towards transparency, the developers have shared a preliminary list of optimizations included in the upcoming patch. The full patch notes will be released alongside the update.

A Glimpse at the Upcoming Optimizations

The new patch aims to boost performance across nearly every aspect of the game. The preview list reveals just how deep these technical improvements go:

• VFX and Physics Optimizations:

  • Status effects (burning, slowing, etc.) have been optimized.
  • System load has been reduced by enabling powered ragdolls only when necessary.
  • The physics engine used for damage calculations has been improved.
  • Visual effects for Acid Rain during Acid Storms and the Dragonroach fire attack have been optimized.
  • The general fire system has been made more efficient with particle and lighting optimizations.

• AI and Environmental Optimizations:

  • Automaton unit and NPC eyes have been redesigned using more efficient shaders instead of particle effects.
  • Redundant code has been stripped from AI behaviors.
  • Asset distribution, geometry, and setup in Hive Worlds and Terminid caves have been optimized.
  • The performance of scattered assets, such as grass on various planet types, has been improved.

• General Performance Improvements:

  • Stuttering during the drop-in sequence for missions on Hive Worlds has been reduced.
  • Audio file I/O performance has been improved.
  • Snow distribution and its overall appearance on icy planets have been reworked.
  • Performance has been increased by tweaking character Level of Detail (LOD) settings.
  • The rendering performance of several shaders has been optimized.

Tackling the Bloated File Size

This focus on optimization could finally address the long-standing complaint about the game’s massive file size. The development team previously explained that the large file size on PC was a result of an optimization technique for users with older HDDs (Hard Disk Drives). This method, which involves duplicating data to shorten load times, resulted in unnecessary bloat for the majority of players using modern SSDs. Arrowhead has confirmed they are working on a multi-stage plan to resolve this, and patches like this one are the first step.

For many players, especially on PC, these fixes can’t come soon enough. The game’s performance issues have been a significant source of frustration, turning smooth co-op sessions into a slideshow for some. The big question now is whether this massive optimization push will be enough to bring lapsed Helldivers back to the front lines. We’ll be watching closely.