Helldivers 2’s First Big Update of 2025 Lets You Emote While Ragdolling Once Again, Tweaks Balance, and More

Helldivers 2's substantial 2025 update, patch 01.002.101, is now live, delivering 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 Helldivers 2 approaching its first anniversary and the introduction of the Illuminate faction, players are eagerly anticipating the next chapter in the Galactic War narrative. The update's considerable size hints at potential unannounced content additions beyond the documented changes.

A noteworthy, albeit bizarre, fix deserves mention:

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: Spray weapon gas duration increased from 6 to 10 seconds. A despawn timer added for Illuminate dropship wrecks to prevent path obstruction.
• Helldiver: Jogging while carrying two-handed items (barrels, SEAF Artillery Rounds) is now permitted.
• FRV: Grenade and stratagem deployment authorized while leaning from the FRV. FRV handling tuned for improved 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 (mirroring general change).
• Armor Passives (Siege Ready): A bug granting extra ammo to all weapons (not just primaries as intended) remains unfixed for now, pending further evaluation. Armory description will be updated later.
• Backpacks (AX/TX-13 “Guard Dog” Dog Breath): Reworked for increased effectiveness, focusing on gas-based mechanics. Ammo preservation implemented by prioritizing non-gassed enemies. Targeting logic improved for proximity to the Helldiver, with range increased from 10 to 20 meters. Spray weapon gas duration increased (mirroring general change).
• Stratagems (MD-6, MD-I4, MD-17 Anti-Personnel/Incendiary/Tank Mines): Cooldown reduced to 120 seconds (from 180). Damage increased significantly. 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 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 addressed, including those related to mission aborts, hot-joining, emotes, fires, drop-in sequences, reloading, armor changes, tutorial completion, extraction, projectile fire, objective carrying, text language changes, and SG-20 Halt reloading.
• Social Issues & Matchmaking: Matchmaking improved for regional proximity. Difficulty lobby matching enhanced. Chat history preservation fixed.
• Weapons and Stratagems: Emplacement retention during text chat fixed. 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 sharing restored.
• FRV: FRV reinforcement implemented to prevent minor impact explosions. FRV camera improved for visuals and underground avoidance. Rooftop drops reduced. Non-QWERTY keyboard input support added. Enemy launch distance from FRV impact adjusted.
• Helldiver: Ragdolling into FRV no longer launches the vehicle. Civilian car vaulting/climbing restored. Post-ragdoll sliding fixed. Stuck prone gliding animation fixed. Missing pickup animations added.
• Enemies: Stalker tongue visual bug fixed. Enemy reaction to missed shots improved.
• Miscellaneous Fixes: Audio synchronization improved. Helldiver exit fix during loadout. Civilian shuttle access fixed. Purple question mark reduction in Illuminate missions. Floating head syndrome fixed for AC-2 Obedient armor. Incorrect damage calculation for low armor penetration weapons corrected. Enemy sinking implemented near terminals/extraction.

Known Issues:

• Top Priority: Black box terminal clipping. Stratagem ball unpredictable bounces. DSSP balancing/functionality. Pathfinding issues in Illuminate evacuation missions. Dolby Atmos PS5 incompatibility.
• Medium Priority: Pelican-1 extraction ramp issue. Explosive ragdolling. Cape display issue. Unauthorized spacewalks from “This is Democracy” emote. AX/TX-13 ammo indicator. Barrager Tank armor/weak points. LAS-5 Scythe zoom. Charge-up weapon firing rate issues.

This comprehensive update aims to significantly enhance the Helldivers 2 experience. Players are encouraged to report any further issues encountered.