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, introducing significant gameplay adjustments and bug fixes. This over 5GB patch enhances spray weapon gas durations, reinstates emoting during flight or ragdolling, and implements numerous balance changes.

Approaching its first anniversary, Helldivers 2 continues its engaging Galactic War narrative with the recent addition of the Illuminate faction. The update's considerable size suggests potential unannounced content additions beyond the documented changes.

A noteworthy, albeit peculiar, fix deserves mention:

Resolved a minor visual glitch involving the Stalker's tongue (details withheld).

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 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 improved for cornering.
• Sidearms: Starting magazines increased from 2 to 3; spare magazines from 4 to 5.
• Stratagem Support Weapons (TX-41 Sterilizer): Crosshair drift and camera climb recoil reduced. 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.
• Backpacks (AX/TX-13 “Guard Dog”): Reworked for improved effectiveness, focusing on gas mechanics. Ammo conservation implemented by prioritizing non-gassed enemies. Targeting logic refined to prevent excessive roaming; range increased from 10 to 20 meters. Gas duration increased (as above).
• Stratagems (MD-6, MD-I4, MD-17): Cooldowns reduced from 180 to 120 seconds. Damage increased significantly. Mine deployment spread widened to reduce chain explosions. (Specific damage values listed in original patch notes).
• SH-20 Ballistic Shield Backpack: Now blocks melee attacks until destroyed.

Fixes:

• Top Priority: Emoting during falls/ragdolling restored (without fall damage reduction). Illuminate spawner ship shields now vulnerable to impact grenades. Collision gaps in Illuminate ships fixed. Health packs fully restore stims. High-damage weapons now detonate Hellbombs.
• Crash Fixes: Numerous crash fixes implemented, addressing issues related to mission aborts, hot-joining, emote switching, fires, drop-in sequences, reloading, armor changes, tutorial completion, extraction, projectile fire, objective carrying, text language changes, and SG-20 Halt reloading.
• Social & Matchmaking: Matchmaking improved for regional proximity. Difficulty lobby matching enhanced. Chat history preservation fixed.
• Weapons & 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 sharing restored.
• FRV: FRV reinforcement to prevent minor impact explosions. Camera improvements. Rooftop drops reduced. Non-QWERTY keyboard input support added. Enemy launch distance adjusted.
• Helldiver: Ragdolling into FRV fix. Civilian car climbing/vaulting restored. Post-ragdoll sliding reduced. Stuck prone gliding animation fix. Pickup animation fix.
• Enemies: Stalker tongue visual bug fixed. Enemy reaction to missed shots improved.
• Miscellaneous: Various audio, civilian pathfinding, visual (floating heads), and damage calculation fixes.

Known Issues:

• Top Priority: Black box terminal clipping, DSSP pathfinding, Evacuate Colonists mission pathfinding, Dolby Atmos on PS5.
• Medium Priority: Pelican-1 extraction issues, explosive ragdolling, cape display, "This is Democracy" emote, Guard Dog ammo indicator, Barrager Tank stats, LAS-5 Scythe zoom, charge-up weapon firing.

This update significantly improves Helldivers 2's gameplay and stability. Players are encouraged to experience these enhancements.