Helldivers 2 requires approximately 150GB for a PC installation, which is significantly larger than its console counterpart. Brendan Armstrong, the deputy technical director at Arrowhead, recently addressed this disparity and explained that it is unlikely to change in the near future.

In a recent update on Steam, Armstrong noted that the developers employed data duplication techniques for the PC version to enhance loading times, a strategy primarily designed for hard disk drives (HDDs). These older storage devices rely on a mechanical arm to read data, and by duplicating essential information, the game can find what it needs more quickly, thus minimizing loading times. In contrast, solid-state drives (SSDs) operate differently, which is why Helldivers 2 is more compact on consoles.

Armstrong also recognized that while HDDs are included in the minimum specifications for the PC version, the studio lacks concrete data on how many players are still using them. He estimated that about 12% of PC gamers might still be relying on HDDs, although this figure is based on uncertain data. He emphasized that until the studio can accurately assess the prevalence of HDDs among players, it’s tough to gauge the impact of potentially reducing data duplication. Notably, load times for any player entering a mission are determined by the slowest team member.

The development team is currently exploring a variety of solutions for future updates but noted that completely eliminating data duplication would lead to excessively long load times for HDD users—which they deemed unacceptable. In the short term, they plan to remove unused game assets in an upcoming update; however, these will be replaced with new content, keeping storage requirements unchanged.

A potential medium-term solution might involve grouping commonly used assets and eliminating duplicates, but this could lead to longer load times for players using HDDs. For the long term, plans are in place to enhance the game engine to prevent unnecessary RAM usage when loading data that isn’t needed.

One additional option being considered is making high-resolution textures available as an optional download, though Armstrong clarified that this isn’t straightforward given the current engine limitations, making it a major undertaking. He explained that focusing on this could detract from addressing performance optimization and stability issues.

Armstrong assured players that their concerns are being taken seriously but highlighted that there are no simple fixes. He pointed out that until a larger portion of the PC player base has transitioned to SSDs, some additional hard drive space will be necessary to maintain reasonable loading times. The studio is evaluating the trade-offs between loading speed and installation size closely, aiming for a better balance between the two in the near future.

This discussion touches on a broader trend where many modern PC games now mandate SSDs as a minimum requirement. Despite this, Arrowhead has sought to make Helldivers 2 accessible to a broader range of PC specifications, though this inevitably impacts storage needs.

This post is just the first installment in a planned series where the developer will share insights into the technical challenges they are tackling. An update aimed at resolving various performance issues, which have arisen as the game has evolved since its launch, is expected later this month. Additionally, Helldivers 2 was released on Xbox Series X/S consoles in August, marking its debut as the first Sony-published title on that platform and expanding its audience reach.