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Helldivers 2 Slashes PC Install to 23GB in Opt-In Steam Beta

New data shows level generation, not asset loading, drives waits, allowing Arrowhead to cut duplication with only minor slowdowns.

Overview

  • The public technical beta labeled "prod_slim" is live on Steam for PC players who opt in.
  • The slim build cuts roughly 131GB—about an 85% reduction—from the prior ~154GB footprint.
  • Arrowhead reports only seconds of extra loading even for HDD users, estimating about 11% still run the game on mechanical drives.
  • Progression, purchases, war contributions, and matchmaking remain compatible between slim and legacy versions with no gameplay differences.
  • With assistance from Sony’s Nixxes, the studio aims to make the slim build the default after testing and to discontinue the legacy PC version next year if stability holds.