Helldivers 2’s new ‘slim’ version saves 131GB of space on your drive | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessCreatorsMobilePolicySecurityTransportationReviewsExpandLaptopsPhonesHeadphonesTabletsSmart HomeSmartwatchesSpeakersDronesScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthEntertainmentExpandGamesTV ShowsMoviesAudioAIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee All ShoppingCarsExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersOther TransportationFeaturesVideosExpandYouTubeTikTokInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Helldivers 2’s new ‘slim’ version saves 131GB of space on your driveComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...NewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsGamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingPC GamingClosePC GamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PC GamingHelldivers 2’s new ‘slim’ version saves 131GB of space on your driveThe file size reduction is available now as a technical public beta update on Steam.The file size reduction is available now as a technical public beta update on Steam.by Stevie BonifieldCloseStevie BonifieldNews WriterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Stevie BonifieldDec 2, 2025, 8:32 PM UTCLinkShareIf you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.Image: SonyStevie BonifieldCloseStevie BonifieldPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Stevie Bonifield is a news writer covering all things consumer tech. Stevie started out at Laptop Mag writing news and reviews on hardware, gaming, and AI.If you’ve been short on storage on your PC, the latest Helldivers 2 beta update might help. The developers said Tuesday they’ve managed to cut down the PC file size for Helldivers 2 by about 85 percent, freeing up enough space for at least one or two more large games.In a post on the game’s Steam page, the developers explained that they’ve been working on slimming down the game while also adding new content:“The longer term goal has always been to bring the PC installation size much closer in line with the console versions. We are happy to report that, thanks to our partners at Nixxes, we have reached that goal much sooner than expected. By completely de-duplicating our data, we were able to reduce the PC installation size from ~154GB to ~23GB, for a total saving of ~131GB.”The reduction in file size should have a “minimal” impact on load times, “seconds at most,” the developers said. The original file size was significantly larger because the developers were duplicating game asset data to improve load times on mechanical HDDs, which they estimate about 11 percent of Helldivers 2 players are currently using.However, as the post on the update explains, the developers now know that load times in Helldivers 2 are mainly due to level generation, not loading game assets, so duplicating asset data was offering minimal benefit and impacting a small percentage of players (while making the file size larger for everyone).Anyone with the PC version of Helldivers 2 can opt-in for the technical public beta on Steam to get the “slim” version of the game, which will eventually become the default version after the developers iron out any remaining issues that come up in beta testing.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Stevie BonifieldCloseStevie BonifieldNews WriterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Stevie BonifieldGamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsPC GamingClosePC GamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PC GamingMost PopularMost PopularNetflix kills casting from phonesOpenAI declares ‘code red’ as Google catches up in AI raceMKBHD is taking down his wallpaper appSamsung’s Z TriFold is official and it looks like a tablet with a phone attachedThese last-minute Cyber Monday deals will likely be gone tomorrowThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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Helldivers 2 has achieved a significant optimization for PC players, dramatically reducing its installed file size. Sony, through developer Gearbox Software and their partners, has implemented a technical public beta update that reduces the game’s footprint by approximately 85 percent. This translates to a reduction from roughly 154 gigabytes to 23 gigabytes, representing a savings of approximately 131 gigabytes. The primary driver behind this change stems from a shift in understanding the game’s performance bottlenecks. Initially, the developers duplicated game asset data to improve load times on mechanical hard disk drives, a strategy aimed at accommodating the estimated 11 percent of players still utilizing such drives. However, subsequent analysis revealed that level generation, rather than asset loading, was the primary constraint on loading times. Consequently, the redundant asset duplication proved to be an unnecessary and counterproductive measure, inflating the file size for all players while offering minimal performance gains. The technical public beta update is available on Steam and is intended to address any remaining issues that may arise during the testing phase. This optimization represents a notable refinement in the game’s overall design and architecture, and represents a proactive response to player hardware diversity.