Helldivers 2's Massive Update Brings Enhanced Gameplay

Helldivers 2's substantial 2025 update, patch 01.002.101, is now live, introducing significant gameplay adjustments and bug fixes. This over 5GB patch boasts extended gas effects from spray weapons, restored emoting during flight or ragdoll states, and numerous balance improvements.

Approaching its first anniversary, Helldivers 2's evolving Galactic War narrative continues with the recent Illuminate faction introduction, leaving players eager for future developments. The update's considerable size hints at potential unannounced content additions beyond the documented changes.

A particularly noteworthy fix, though oddly described, addresses a visual glitch with the Stalker's tongue.

Helldivers 2 Update 01.002.101 Patch Notes:

Balancing:

• General Changes: Increased spray weapon gas effect duration from 6 to 10 seconds. Implemented a despawn timer for Illuminate dropship wreckage to prevent path obstruction.
• 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 possible. FRV handling, particularly cornering, has been refined.
• Sidearms: Increased starting magazines from 2 to 3; increased spare magazines from 4 to 5.
• Stratagem Support Weapons (TX-41 Sterilizer): Removed crosshair drift recoil; decreased camera climb recoil. (Gas effect duration also increased to 10 seconds).
• Armor Passives (Siege Ready): A bug granting extra ammo to all weapons (not just primaries as intended) remains unfixed for now, pending further evaluation. The Armory description will be updated later.
• Backpacks (AX/TX-13 “Guard Dog”): Reworked for improved effectiveness, prioritizing enemies unaffected by gas. Targeting logic improved to prevent excessive roaming, originating from the Helldiver's position (not the drone). Targeting range increased from 10 to 20 meters. (Gas effect duration also increased to 10 seconds).
• Stratagems (MD-6 Anti-Personnel Minefield, MD-I4 Incendiary Mines, MD-17 Anti-Tank Mines): Cooldown reduced from 180 to 120 seconds for all three. Damage increased (700, 300, and unspecified for the respective mines). Mine deployment spread increased by 20% to reduce chain explosions.
• SH-20 Ballistic Shield Backpack: Now blocks melee attacks until destroyed.

Fixes:

• Top Priority: Emoting is re-enabled during falls/ragdolls (without affecting fall damage). Illuminate spawner ship shields now take impact grenade damage. Collision gaps within the Illuminate spawner ship 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 Issues & Matchmaking: Improved matchmaking for regional proximity. Matching with similar difficulty lobbies is now more consistent. Chat history persistence is fixed.
• Weapons and Stratagems: Emplacement usage is improved; Arc weapon accuracy against Impaler tentacles is fixed; E/AT-12 Anti-Tank Emplacement armor penetration tag is corrected; Stratagem turrets no longer target Illuminate Tesla Towers; Heat weapon visual display is fixed; Melee weapon physics are adjusted; B-1 Supply Pack stim sharing is restored.
• FRV: FRV durability is increased; FRV camera improvements prevent underground sticking; Rooftop drops are reduced; Non-QWERTY keyboard support is added; Enemy launch distance from FRV impacts is adjusted.
• Helldiver: Ragdolling into FRV no longer causes vehicle ejection; Civilian car vaulting/climbing is fixed; Post-ragdoll sliding is fixed; Stuck prone gliding animation is fixed; Missing pickup animations are added.
• Enemies: Stalker's tongue visual bug is fixed; Enemy reactions to missed shots are improved.
• Miscellaneous Fixes: Various audio, civilian pathing, visual (floating heads), and damage-related fixes.

Known Issues:

• Top Priority: Black box terminal clipping, DSSP pathfinding, Evacuate Colonists mission pathfinding, Dolby Atmos on PS5.
• Medium Priority: Pelican-1 extraction issues, explosive ragdolling, cape display, "This is Democracy" emote, Guard Dog ammo display, Barrager Tank stats, LAS-5 Scythe zoom, charge-up weapon firing.

This update significantly enhances Helldivers 2's gameplay and stability, though some issues remain.