Arrowhead Game Studios released a new update for Helldivers 2 and the changes inside match up really well with the content that just arrived in the game, like the Redacted Regiment Warbond. For many players, part of the fun of Helldivers 2 is figuring out how to survive and complete objectives before extracting. There are plenty of tools and options available in the game, giving players a lot of creative freedom in how they complete missions. With the latest update and content drop, stealth is now more viable than ever.
There’s still a big air of mystery surrounding Helldivers 2 and Arrowhead Game Studios plans for 2026. While the studio is looking to put together some sort of 2026 content roadmap for Helldivers 2, players have only gotten hints and teases at potential plans for the popular online game. In fact, speaking on the game’s official Discord channel, Arrowhead Game Studios CEO Shams Jorjani teased that “a lot of Helldivers will die” in a future update. While that’s a common occurrence in Helldivers 2, many have taken it to mean that new enemies or map conditions could be on the way. For now, the latest update has finally arrived and teases bigger things to come in February.
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Although it isn’t the biggest set of patch notes that Helldivers 2 has seen since it launched, Arrowhead Game Studios refers to this as an important update for stealth players and suppressed weapons. So, for those choosing to use a stealthier approach to combat, suppressors are now more effective and will attract much less attention from enemies thanks to a 50% reduction to their noise radius. In addition, the detection radius of some enemies has been further reduced when being fired at. Specifically, Helldivers 2 Automaton and Terminids enemies like Devastators, Berserkers, Spewers, Chargers, Impaler, and the Iluminate Observer have had their detection range of danger also reduced.
The update should be a welcomed one for those who will be diving into the new Redacted Regiment Warbond for Helldivers 2, which also launches later today, January 22. After a minor delay for added testing, the warbond adds stealthier options to the game, including the R-72 Censor precision rifle and AR-59 Suppressor assault rifle. Both weapons feature suppressors, which have now been buffed and likely making them even more appealing for some players. For those who don’t mind going loud, they can opt to bring the B/MD C4 Pack stratagem, giving them access to 6 C4 charges and a wireless detonator to perform some serious destruction.
Helldivers 2 Adds Commando Missions
In addition to the Redacted Regiment warbond, Arrowhead Game Studios is also releasing special Commando Missions for Helldivers 2. Seemingly taking a page out of the Metal Gear series, players will be deployed deep behind enemy lines where they won’t have access to air support. Players will also need to call in reinforcements in advance, potentially adding a new layer of challenge to complete the mission. Either way, these commando missions appear to be a great way to test out all the recent stealth updates to the game.
The final big piece of news with this update is in regards to Arrowhead’s recent moves to shrink the file size of Helldivers 2. Known as the Slim PC Build, it was originally a beta opt-in feature and wasn’t required. Over the past month, feedback and stress testing have continued toi refine the process behind the scenes and now Arrowhead appears ready to pull the trigger on a full release for all PC players. While the full-sized version of Helldivers 2 will still be available for now, the studio plans to sunset it at some point in the future.
Helldivers 2 Update 5.0.2 Patch Notes
General changes overview
Suppressors are now more effective
- Intent is to make suppressors more valuable in stealth gameplay and attract less attention from enemies
- Noise radius of firing suppressed weapons roughly reduced by 50%
- Enemies detection radius when being fired at, but not being hit, is reduced in some units
General
- Detection range of danger (basically being shot at but not getting hit) reduced for enemies like Devastators, Berserkers, Spewers, Chargers, Impaler, Observer
Gameplay
Optimizations
- Adjusted M-1000 Minigun muzzle to reduce flash
- Released
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February 8, 2024
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
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Arrowhead Game Studios, Nixxes
- Publisher(s)
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Sony Interactive Entertainment, PlayStation Publishing
