Helldivers 2 releases its second major patch for October 2024, bringing even more weapon buffs and the end of Arrowhead’s 60-day update plan.
Arrowhead Game Studios has released a new update for Helldivers 2 on October 15, marking the end of the studio’s 60-day community commitment with another round of huge weapons buffs, adjustments, and gameplay changes. Helldivers 2’s 1.001.104 patch is available to download and install now on PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam, and although today’s update marks the end of Arrowhead’s 60-day plan, the studio says it is still committed to keeping a line of communication between developers and fans open.
Although the third-person shooter has been a smash hit with players, Helldivers 2 has found itself at the center of multiple controversies since its launch in February. The first came when its publisher, Sony, attempted to force PC players to link their Steam accounts to a PSN account if they wanted to continue playing. This decision was later walked back, but Helldivers 2 would then go on to be review-bombed after releasing its massive Escalation of Freedom update due to what fans believed were an unnecessary number of weapon and stratagem nerfs.
In response to the backlash, Arrowhead outlined a 60-day plan for Helldivers 2 where it would release new updates and re-examine its approach to balance changes. The studio’s plan has now come to an end with the release of Helldivers 2’s latest update, which is now available on PlayStation 5 and PC. The patch notes detail some lengthy changes with another round of massive buffs, as Arrowhead says the 1.001.104 update includes the remaining weapons and stratagem changes that it wasn’t able to finish for the September 17 patch.
Alongside changes to armor damage, quality-of-life improvements, and weapon buffs, Arrowhead says it has dedicated time to look over some key core systems such as enemy spawning and Automaton targeting. The studio says that thanks to fan feedback, battling the Automatons in Helldivers 2 has been fine-tuned to make the experience a lot less frustrating for players.
As the latest Helldivers 2 update is now live, Arrowhead has celebrated the occasion with a new post recapping the past 60 days. The studio notes that over 70 different weapons and stratagems have seen comprehensive balance adjustments, along with an overhaul to several enemies to ensure they present a challenge while also feeling rewarding to defeat. Other notable changes have also been made to UI and enemy spawning, but Arrowhead says it is still committed to ensuring there is an open line of communication through surveys, patch notes, blog posts, and more. Helldivers 2 Patch Notes for October 15 Update
General changes
Additional Supply Items are now visible on the minimap
Exosuits
Support Stratagems
Removed ricochets from Orbital Stratagem projectiles, Eagle-1 bombs and FAF-14 Spear missiles
They can no longer ricochet off of targets
Helldiver armor tweaks, both Heavy and Light armor are now more effective
Heavy armor reduces damage taken by 25%, up from 20%
5% more damage reduction
Light armor increases damage taken by 25%, down from 33%
8% less damage taken
Stratagems and Weapon tag description updates, they now show more information and are also categorized
Armor penetration 2 is classified as Light armor penetrating
Armor penetration 3 is classified as Medium armor penetrating
Armor penetration 4 is classified as Heavy armor penetrating
Armor penetration 5+ is classified as Anti tank
Primary Weapons
Plasma projectile behavior
We’ve standardized the behavior of Plasma projectiles, which previously had varying characteristics in how they traveled through the air. Now, all Plasma projectiles experience high drag, causing them to slow down faster. However, each plasma weapon still fires projectiles at different speeds and calibers, so their effective ranges will remain distinct. For most weapons, this change won’t be very noticeable
With the SG-8P Punisher Plasma you’ll see a less pronounced arc in its projectile path. Instead, it will start off faster and lose speed more rapidly, keeping its effective range about the same
PLAS-101 Purifier
Projectiles can now be charged up with a damage multiplier that scales
Minimum charge of 0.1 sec gives a 50% damage multiplier
Maximum charge of 1 sec gives a 100% damage multiplier
Maximum charge projectile damage increased from 100 to 200
Maximum charge projectile durable damage increased from 50 to 100
Maximum charge explosion damage increased from 150 to 300
The explosion doesn’t scale, but a fully charged shot has a different explosion effect:
Minimum charge (0.1–0.99 sec): Inner radius 1m, outer radius 2m, explosion damage 75
Maximum charge (1 sec): Inner radius 2.9m, outer radius 3m, explosion damage 300
PLAS-1 Scorcher
New weapon function: Auto fire mode
Fire rate increased from 250 to 350
Magazine capacity increased from 15 to 20
Spare magazines decreased from 6 to 5
SG-8P Punisher Plasma
Reduced recoil
Fire rate increased from 80 to 100
AR-23 Liberator
Horizontal recoil reduced by 30%
AR-23P Liberator Penetrator
Horizontal recoil reduced by 30%
Increased magazine capacity from 30 to 45
Spare magazines decreased from 10 to 7
AR-23A Liberator Carbine
Horizontal recoil reduced by 30%
Ergonomics increased from 65 to 70
Reload duration decreased from 3 to 2.
