Helldivers 2's substantial 2025 update, patch 01.002.101, is now live, bringing significant gameplay adjustments and bug fixes. This over 5GB patch increases spray weapon gas duration to 10 seconds, restores emoting during flight or ragdolling, and implements numerous balance changes.
With the game approaching its first anniversary and the introduction of the Illuminate faction, speculation about future Galactic War narrative developments is rife. The update's considerable size hints at potential unannounced content additions beyond the documented changes.
A noteworthy, albeit strangely described, fix is:
Fixed a small visual bug with the Stalker’s tongue (the details of this fix are best left unsaid)
Helldivers 2 Update 01.002.101 Patch Notes:
Balancing:
- General Changes: Spray weapon gas duration increased from 6 to 10 seconds. A despawn timer added for Illuminate dropship wreckage to prevent path obstructions.
- Helldiver: Jogging now permitted while carrying two-handed items (barrels, SEAF Artillery Rounds).
- FRV: Grenade and stratagem deployment allowed while leaning from the FRV. FRV handling improved for cornering.
- Sidearms: Starting magazines increased from 2 to 3; spare magazines increased from 4 to 5.
- Stratagem Support Weapons (TX-41 Sterilizer): Crosshair drift and camera climb recoil reduced. Spray weapon gas duration increased (as above).
- 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” Dog Breath): Reworked for improved effectiveness, focusing on gas mechanics. Now prioritizes enemies unaffected by gas, targets from the Helldiver's position (not the drone), and has an increased range (10m to 20m). Spray weapon gas duration increased (as above).
- Stratagems (MD-6, MD-I4, MD-17 Anti-Personnel/Incendiary/Tank Mines): Cooldown reduced to 120 seconds (from 180); damage increased; deployment spread increased by 20% to reduce chain explosions.
- SH-20 Ballistic Shield Backpack: Now blocks melee attacks until destroyed.
Fixes:
- Top Priority: Emoting restored during falls/ragdolling (without fall damage reduction). Illuminate spawner ship shields now take impact grenade damage. Collision gaps in Illuminate spawner ships 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 improved. Chat history persistence fixed.
- Weapons and Stratagems: Emplacement retention while using text chat. Arc weapon accuracy improved against Impaler tentacles. E/AT-12 Anti-Tank Emplacement armor penetration tag corrected. Stratagem turrets no longer target Illuminate Tesla Towers. Heat weapon visual bug fixed. Melee weapon physics adjusted. B-1 Supply Pack stim functionality restored.
- FRV: FRV reinforcement to prevent minor impact explosions. FRV camera improvements. Reduced rooftop drops on call-in. FRV key bindings support non-QWERTY keyboards. Enemy launch distance adjusted.
- Helldiver: Ragdolling into FRV fix. Civilian car vaulting/climbing restored. Ragdoll ground sliding fix. Stuck prone gliding animation fix. Pickup animation fix.
- Enemies: Stalker tongue visual bug fixed. Enemy reaction to missed shots fixed.
- Miscellaneous Fixes: Various audio, Hellpod exit, civilian pathing, purple question mark frequency, floating head syndrome, and low armor penetration damage fixes.
Known Issues:
- Top Priority: Black box terminal clipping, DSSP pathfinding, Evacuate Colonists mission pathfinding, Dolby Atmos on PS5.
- Medium Priority: Pelican-1 extraction, explosive ragdolls, cape display, “This is Democracy” emote, Guard Dog ammo indicator, Barrager Tank stats, LAS-5 Scythe zoom, charge-up weapon firing.
This update represents a significant step in refining the Helldivers 2 experience. Players can expect improved gameplay, stability, and potentially some exciting surprises.
