Helldivers 2: 2025's Major Update – New Emotes, Balance Tweaks

Arrowhead has released the first major update for Helldivers 2 in 2025, bringing significant changes to the game.

Patch 01.002.101, available now, extends the gas effect duration from spray weapons, restores the ability to emote while airborne or ragdolling, and includes numerous balance adjustments and bug fixes.

As Helldivers 2 approaches its first anniversary, and with the introduction of the Illuminate enemy faction revitalizing the gameplay, players are eager to see what unfolds next in the ongoing Galactic War meta-narrative. The update's substantial 5GB+ size has also fueled speculation among fans about potential unannounced additions beyond the stated balance changes and fixes.

One particularly noteworthy, and slightly unsettling, fix is worth mentioning:

Fixed a small visual bug with the Stalker’s tongue (you don’t want to know what it took to fix it)

Helldivers 2 Update 01.002.101 Patch Notes:

Balancing

General Changes:

• Increased gas status effect duration from spray weapons (6 to 10 seconds).
• Implemented a despawn timer for Illuminate dropship wreckage to prevent path obstruction.

Helldiver:

• Added a clause to the Ministry of Humanity's Principles of Correct Posture for Safe Lifting, allowing Helldivers to jog while carrying two-handed items (barrels, SEAF Artillery Rounds).
• Authorized grenade and stratagem deployment while leaning from the FRV.
• Improved FRV handling, particularly during cornering.

Sidearms:

• Increased starting magazines (2 to 3).
• Increased spare magazines (4 to 5).

Stratagem Support Weapons:

• TX-41 Sterilizer: Removed crosshair drift recoil; decreased camera climb recoil; increased gas status effect duration from spray weapons (6 to 10 seconds).

Armor Passives:

• The bug affecting the Siege Ready Armor Passive (granting extra ammo to all weapons instead of just primaries) remains unfixed for now, pending further evaluation of potential unforeseen consequences. The Armory description will be updated later.

Backpacks:

• AX/TX-13 “Guard Dog” Dog Breath: Reworked for improved effectiveness and distinction, focusing on its gas-based mechanics. Now prioritizes enemies unaffected by gas, increasing ammo preservation. Targeting logic improved for reduced roaming; targeting range increased (10 to 20m); increased gas status effect duration from spray weapons (6 to 10 seconds).

Stratagems:

• MD-6 Anti-Personnel Minefield: Cooldown reduced (180 to 120 seconds); damage increased (350 to 700); increased mine deployment spread (20%) to reduce chain explosions.
• MD-I4 Incendiary Mines: Cooldown reduced (180 to 120 seconds); damage increased (210 to 300); increased mine deployment spread (20%) to reduce chain explosions.
• MD-17 Anti-Tank Mines: Cooldown reduced (180 to 120 seconds).
• SH-20 Ballistic Shield Backpack: Now blocks melee attacks until destroyed.

Fixes

Resolved Top Priority Issues:

• Restored emoting while falling or ragdolling (fall damage remains unchanged).
• Fixed Illuminate spawner ship shields not taking impact grenade damage.
• Resolved collision gaps within the Illuminate spawner ship, allowing grenades to destroy it.
• Health packs now fully restore all Helldiver stims.
• High-damage weapons now detonate spawned Hellbombs.

Crash Fixes, Hangs, and Soft-Locks:

• Fixed numerous crashes related to missions, hot-joining, emotes, fire, loading, armor changes, and weapon reloading.
• Addressed several soft-locks during drop-in and extraction.

Social Issues & Matchmaking:

• Improved matchmaking for better regional pairing.
• Fixed chat history clearing issue when entering and exiting missions.

Weapons and Stratagems:

• Fixed issues with emplacements, Arc weapons, Anti-Tank Emplacements, Stratagem turrets, heat weapon visuals, melee weapons, B-1 Supply Packs, and weapon penetration.

FRV:

• Reinforced FRVs to prevent explosions from minor impacts.
• Improved FRV camera visuals and fixed underground sticking issues.
• Reduced chance of FRV deployment on rooftops.
• FRV keybindings now support non-QWERTY keyboards.
• Fixed issues with enemy launch distance when hit by FRV.

Helldiver:

• Fixed issues with ragdolling, sliding, and animations.

Enemies:

• Fixed a visual bug with the Stalker’s tongue.
• Fixed enemy non-reaction to missed shots.

Miscellaneous Fixes:

• Addressed various audio, visual, and gameplay issues.

Known Issues

Top Priority:

• Black box mission terminal clipping.
• Stratagem ball unpredictable bounces.
• DSSPathfinding issues.
• Dolby Atmos not working on PS5.

Medium Priority:

• Player getting stuck on Pelican-1 ramp.
• Explosives ragdolling hidden Helldivers.
• Cape display issues in Armory.
• "This is Democracy" emote causing unintended spacewalks.
• AX/TX-13 ammo display issue.
• Barrager Tank armor and weak points.
• LAS-5 Scythe scope zoom issue.
• Charge-up weapon firing rate issue.