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, reinstates emoting during flight or ragdolling, and implements numerous balance changes.

With Helldivers 2 approaching its first anniversary and the Illuminate faction adding a fresh challenge, players are eager for the next chapter in the Galactic War storyline. The update's substantial size hints at potential unannounced content additions beyond the documented changes.

One particularly noteworthy fix addresses a perplexing visual glitch with the Stalker's tongue (the developers remain tight-lipped about the solution!).

Helldivers 2 Update 01.002.101 Patch Notes:

Balance Adjustments:

• General: Spray weapon gas duration increased from 6 to 10 seconds. A despawn timer for Illuminate dropship wreckage prevents 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 increased from 4 to 5.
• Stratagem Support Weapons (TX-41 Sterilizer): Crosshair drift and camera climb recoil reduced. Spray weapon gas duration increased to 10 seconds.
• Armor Passives (Siege Ready): A bug granting extra ammo to all weapons (not just primaries) remains unfixed for now, pending further evaluation. The 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. Spray weapon gas duration increased to 10 seconds.
• Stratagems (MD-6 Anti-Personnel, MD-I4 Incendiary, MD-17 Anti-Tank Mines): Cooldown reduced to 120 seconds; damage increased. Mine deployment spread increased to reduce chain explosions.
• SH-20 Ballistic Shield Backpack: Now blocks melee attacks until destroyed.

Bug Fixes:

• High Priority: Emoting reinstated during falls/ragdolling (without fall damage reduction). Illuminate spawner ship shields now take impact grenade damage. 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, emotes, fires, drop-in sequences, reloading, armor changes, tutorial completion, extraction, projectile fire, carrying objectives, text language changes, and SG-20 Halt reloading.
• Social/Matchmaking: Improved matchmaking for regional proximity. Matching with preferred difficulty lobbies improved. Chat history preservation fixed.
• Weapons/Stratagems: Emplacement retention during text chat. 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. Heat weapon visual bug fixed.
• FRV: FRV reinforcement to prevent minor impact explosions. Camera improvements. Reduced rooftop drops. Non-QWERTY keyboard input support added. Enemy launch distance adjusted.
• Helldiver: Ragdolling into FRV fix. Civilian car vaulting/climbing restored. Ragdoll ground sliding fix. Stuck prone gliding animation fix. Pickup animation fix.
• Enemies: Stalker tongue visual bug fixed. Enemy reaction to missed shots fixed.
• Miscellaneous: Various audio, civilian pathing, visual, and other miscellaneous fixes.

Known Issues:

• High Priority: Black box terminal clipping. Stratagem ball unpredictable bounces. DSSP balancing/functionality. Pathfinding issues in Evacuate Colonists missions. Dolby Atmos issue on PS5.
• Medium Priority: Pelican-1 extraction ramp issue. Explosive ragdolling. Cape display issue. "This is Democracy" emote unintended consequence. AX/TX-13 ammo indicator. Barrager Tank stats. LAS-5 Scythe zoom. Charge-up weapon firing behavior.

This update significantly enhances the Helldivers 2 experience, addressing many player concerns and adding refinements to gameplay. However, some issues remain to be resolved in future patches.