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 extends spray weapon gas durations, restores emoting during flight or ragdoll states, and implements numerous balance tweaks.

Approaching its first anniversary, and with the Illuminate faction adding a new dimension, players are eagerly anticipating the next chapter in the Galactic War's evolving narrative. The update's substantial size hints at potential unannounced content additions beyond the documented changes.

A noteworthy, and slightly unsettling, fix is highlighted:

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

Helldivers 2 Update 01.002.101 Patch Notes:

Balancing:

• General: Spray weapon gas duration increased from 6 to 10 seconds. A despawn timer added for Illuminate dropship wrecks to prevent path obstructions.
• Helldiver: Jogging 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 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) remains unfixed for now, pending further evaluation. Armory description will be updated later.
• Backpacks (AX/TX-13 "Guard Dog"): Reworked for improved effectiveness, prioritizing gas-unaffected enemies. Targeting logic refined, range increased from 10 to 20 meters. Gas duration increased (as above).
• Stratagems (MD-6, MD-I4, MD-17): Cooldowns reduced to 120 seconds; damage increased; mine deployment spread widened to reduce chain explosions.
• SH-20 Ballistic Shield Backpack: Now blocks melee attacks until destroyed.

Fixes:

• Top Priority: Emoting restored during falls/ragdolls (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 detonate Hellbombs.
• Crash Fixes: Numerous crash fixes addressed, including those related to mission aborts, hot-joining, emote switching, fires, drop-in sequences, reloading, armor changes, tutorial completion, extraction, projectile fire, and various other scenarios.
• Social & Matchmaking: Matchmaking improved for regional proximity. Chat history persistence fixed.
• Weapons & Stratagems: Emplacement retention during chat fixed. Arc weapon accuracy improved against Impaler tentacles. E/AT-12 Anti-Tank Emplacement armor penetration tag corrected. Stratagem turrets no longer target Tesla Towers. Melee weapon physics adjusted. B-1 Supply Pack stim sharing restored. Visual inconsistencies with heat weapons fixed.
• FRV: FRV durability increased. Camera improvements implemented. Rooftop drops reduced. Non-QWERTY keyboard support added. Enemy launch distance adjusted.
• Helldiver: Ragdoll interactions with FRV fixed. Climbing/vaulting over cars restored. Ragdoll ground sliding fixed. Animation issues resolved.
• Enemies: Stalker tongue visual bug fixed. Enemy reaction to missed shots fixed.
• Miscellaneous: Various audio, civilian pathing, visual, and other minor fixes implemented.

Known Issues:

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

This update significantly enhances the Helldivers 2 experience, addressing critical issues and refining gameplay mechanics. However, several known issues remain to be addressed in future patches.