Helldivers 2’s PC Install Size Is ~142 GB Right Now — Here’s Why Everyone’s Heated
If you’ve opened Steam lately and wondered why Helldivers 2 is eating a huge slice of your SSD, you’re not imagining it. On PC, the game now occupies around 140–142 GB of space. That’s… a lot. Meanwhile, consoles hover closer to 35–40 GB, which makes this mostly a PC problem.
So, what changed?
A recent update (“Into the Unjust”) pushed the PC install size way up. Players noticed the jump immediately, and it’s been a hot topic across the community ever since. The studio’s leadership has said they know it’s not ideal and that shrinking the footprint is a priority, but there isn’t a public timeline yet.
Why is PC so much bigger than console?
The short version: the PC build appears to pack a lot of duplicated assets. That can help with loading/streaming on slower drives, but it also balloons the install size. Consoles, with their unified hardware and tuned packaging, don’t need as much duplication—hence the much smaller footprint there.
Quick numbers
- PC (Steam): ~140–142 GB
- PS5 / Xbox Series: ~35–40 GB
- Steam listing (requirement): may still show a smaller or generic “free space required” number that doesn’t match real-world installs
It’s not just the size
Alongside the bloat, some players say performance and stability took a hit with the same patch. The devs have acknowledged rough edges and have been talking about fixes. Bottom line: they’re aware of both the size and the stability complaints.
What you can do right now
- Give yourself headroom. Steam updates often need extra temporary space for unpacking. If you’re tight on storage, consider clearing some room before patch day.
- Move the install. If your main SSD is cramped, shift the game to a larger secondary drive to avoid update failures or constant low-space warnings.
- Use console as a workaround. If you own it on PS5/Xbox, the ~35–40 GB footprint is much easier to live with until the PC build slims down.
What the devs have said
Leadership has publicly said they’ve escalated the priority of reducing the PC install size. No dates, no promises—just a clear signal they’re working on it. Given how other big games have cut dozens of gigabytes through smarter packaging and compression, it’s reasonable to hope for a meaningful reduction here too.
Bottom line
As of September 13, 2025, Helldivers 2 on PC really does take about 142 GB. Players are frustrated for good reason, and the devs say a fix is on their to-do list. Until then, plan your storage, consider moving the install, or jump on console to keep your SSD from crying.
