How to Fix Helldivers 2 Bugs: Comprehensive Guide

Navigating through the thrilling yet challenging landscapes of Helldivers 2 can occasionally be marred by a series of frustrating bugs and technical issues, from Helldivers 2 won't launch problems to the mysterious Helldivers 2 flying bugs that disrupt gameplay. These bugs not only detract from the immersive experience but also hinder progression, making it crucial for players to find effective solutions. Addressing Helldivers 2 bugs swiftly ensures that players can return to enjoying the cooperative strategical shooter without unnecessary interruptions. Furthermore, understanding and rectifying these issues are essential for maintaining the game's excitement and player satisfaction.

This comprehensive guide aims to tackle the most common Helldivers 2 bugs, including but not limited to, 'Helldivers 2 not launching', 'Helldivers 2 not launching steam', and 'failed to connect' errors. Initiatives to fix server connection problems will be discussed, alongside methods to resolve gameplay bugs that hinder the Helldivers 2 experience. Furthermore, the article will provide insights on troubleshooting game crashes, which are pivotal for players facing 'Helldivers 2 not working' issues. Additionally, optimization tips for smoother gameplay will be explored, ensuring players can enjoy Helldivers 2 to its fullest potential. By the conclusion, players should have a well-rounded understanding of how to navigate and fix these challenges, enhancing their gaming experience.

Identifying Common Helldivers 2 Bugs

Players of Helldivers 2 often encounter a variety of bugs that can significantly impact their gameplay experience. These issues range from minor glitches to game-breaking problems that prevent progress. Understanding these common bugs is the first step towards resolving them and enhancing the gaming experience.

Types of Bugs

The bugs in Helldivers 2 can be broadly categorized into several types, each affecting different aspects of the game:

1. Connection Issues: Many players report difficulties with multiplayer connectivity, such as failing to join lobbies or connect to servers. This is especially prevalent on PC and PS5 platforms. Issues include error messages like "Failed to join lobby" or "Failed to connect to server," often due to matchmaking problems or unstable connections.

2. Gameplay Interruptions: Players may experience disruptions during gameplay, including being teleported into ship textures or encountering endless loading screens for missions. Such bugs necessitate a game restart or system reboot to resolve.

3. Visual and Interface Glitches: Some bugs affect the game's visual elements and user interface, such as outdated or incorrect display of lobby availability on the galactic map, or the game's camera breaking, forcing players to view the edge of the map.

4. Stratagem Issues: Certain in-game strategies, like the "Reinforcement" function, fail to work as intended. This can be due to multiple players calling for reinforcements simultaneously or the main host exiting the game.

5. Enemy Behavior Anomalies: There are reports of irregular enemy behaviors, such as Chargers continuing to run while stunned or the Bile Titan's head damage being inconsistently registered by anti-tank weapons.

Player-Reported Issues

Players have shared their frustrations and challenges in various forums and community posts. Common complaints include:

• Long wait times in queues without finding other players, particularly on PC.
• Inconsistent ability to join friend lobbies or public games, with some days experiencing more issues than others.
• Suggestions from the community include using public DNS servers, checking router settings like NAT type, and ensuring all players have the latest game updates.

By identifying these common bugs and understanding player-reported issues, the Helldivers 2 community can better navigate these challenges. The developers also gain valuable feedback for future patches and updates to improve the game's stability and playability.

Fixing Server Connection Problems

Many players of Helldivers 2 encounter the frustrating "Failed to Establish Network Connection" error. This issue can often be resolved through a series of troubleshooting steps that address server connection problems directly.

Retry Connection

Firstly, players should attempt to reconnect to the game. This simple step can sometimes resolve the issue without further action needed. If the error persists, checking the server status is crucial. Players can find updates on server status through the Helldivers 2 subreddit and Discord channels, where maintenance times and server outages are regularly posted.

Restart Game

If retrying the connection does not resolve the issue, the next step is to restart the game. This helps clear any temporary glitches affecting connectivity. Players should ensure that they exit the game completely and check for any pending updates or patches that may need to be applied. Restarting the Steam client on PC or the console for PlayStation users can also be beneficial.

Wait for Maintenance

Sometimes, the connection issues are due to ongoing maintenance or unexpected server overloads, especially during peak times or just after game updates. In these cases, waiting for the maintenance period to end is the best course of action. Players should keep an eye on official Helldivers 2 communication channels for any announcements regarding server status.

Additionally, for a more stable connection, players can try the following advanced steps:

• Check Internet Connection: Ensuring a stable internet connection is fundamental. Players might consider switching from Wi-Fi to a wired connection to improve stability.
• Network Reset: For persistent issues, resetting the network settings can help. This can be done by running command prompts such as netsh winsock reset, netsh int ip reset all, netsh winhttp reset proxy, and ipconfig /flushdns on Windows.
• Router Restart: Restarting the router can also alleviate network problems, refreshing the connection to the internet provider.

By following these steps, players should be able to resolve most of the server connection issues in Helldivers 2, allowing for a smoother and more stable gaming experience.

Resolving Gameplay Bugs

Acquisitions Not Working

Players frequently report that the Acquisitions feature in Helldivers 2 fails to function as intended. A common solution is to completely close and restart the game. This action can sometimes reset the game’s internal state and allow the Acquisitions Center to become accessible once again. For a more technical approach, verifying the integrity of game files through Steam is recommended. Players should navigate to Helldivers 2 in their Steam library, right-click the game, select 'Properties,' choose 'Installed Files,' and then click on 'Verify integrity of game files.' This process checks and repairs any corrupted files, which can resolve the Acquisitions issue.

No Rewards After Missions

Many players experience a lack of rewards after completing missions, which can be incredibly frustrating, especially after investing significant time. To address this, players should first check the game’s server status to ensure no ongoing issues could be affecting reward distribution. If server status is normal, restarting the game might help, as some players have noticed that rewards from previous missions sometimes appear after relogging. However, it's crucial to note that this is not a guaranteed fix, and the inconsistency can still persist.

Not Getting XP

A widespread issue among players is not receiving XP after completing missions, despite meeting all objectives. This problem was particularly noticeable during the launch weekend and following server maintenance on February 11, 2024. While the servers are reported to be stable now, there is no confirmation that lost XP will be compensated. Players are advised to check if Helldivers 2 is down before playing to avoid potential disappointments. Arrowhead Game Studios has attempted to mitigate the impact by offering a bonus XP weekend, although this does not address individual data losses.

By following these troubleshooting steps, players can address some of the most common gameplay bugs in Helldivers 2. However, they should remain aware that some issues may persist until further updates are provided by the developers.

Troubleshooting Game Crashes

Crash on Startup

Players often face the frustrating issue of Helldivers 2 crashing upon startup. A common fix involves addressing file integrity and system compatibility. They should start by navigating to Helldivers 2 in their Steam library, right-clicking on the game, selecting 'Properties,' then 'Local Files,' and finally clicking on 'Verify integrity of game files.' This action helps repair any corrupted files that might be causing the crash. Additionally, running the game as an administrator has proven effective. Players can find the Helldivers 2 executable file, right-click it, select 'Properties,' go to the 'Compatibility' tab, and check 'Run this program as an administrator.'

Crash on Extraction

The community has noted frequent crashes during extraction phases. To address this, players can delete the Helldivers 2 shader cache found in the Arrowhead folder on their PC and perform a Steam verification check. For those encountering persistent issues, other recommended steps include running the game in DirectX 11 mode by adding “-use-d3d11” in the Steam launch options and disabling crossplay. Restarting the internet connection or the router, and even reinstalling the game, are additional steps that players have found helpful.

AMD GPU Issues

Specifically for players with AMD GPUs, crashes often occur due to GPU overload. A stable fix involves adjusting the GPU settings to prevent overutilization. Players can set a custom overclocking profile using AMD's Adrenalin software, adjusting the mV setting to the right (e.g., 1150mv for a 7900XTX), and increasing the power limit slightly (5-10%) to accommodate power spikes without overwhelming the GPU. It is also advisable to cap the frame rate to reduce GPU strain—using tools like Radeon Chill or Rivatuner to cap the FPS at 60 can keep the usage between 70-80%, significantly reducing crash occurrences. Adjusting in-game graphics settings by lowering resolution or disabling intensive features like global illumination can also prevent crashes by reducing the load on the GPU.

Optimization Tips for Smooth Gameplay

Adjusting Settings

To enhance gameplay in Helldivers 2, players should consider adjusting specific settings that can significantly impact performance. Turning off motion blur is recommended as it adds an unnecessary smear effect during movement, which is frequent in the game. Disabling VSync is also advised unless screen tearing is a noticeable issue, as it can limit FPS and affect overall performance. Additionally, anti-aliasing should be turned off to avoid the blurring effect it introduces, which can reduce sharpness and detail, making it harder to spot enemies. Reducing shadow quality can also be beneficial since shadows can obscure enemies and do not critically contribute to gameplay visibility.

Disabling Overlays

For players experiencing issues with buying credits or integrating community features, ensuring that the Steam overlay is enabled is crucial. This can be done through the main Steam settings rather than individual game properties. Navigate to Steam -> Settings -> In-Game and check 'Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game'. If issues persist, toggling the 'Show toolbar as list view' option within the same menu might resolve them. This adjustment has helped some players overcome functionality blocks within the game.

Updating Drivers

Keeping graphic drivers up to date is essential for optimal performance and stability in Helldivers 2. Particularly for AMD graphics card users, updating to the latest driver can resolve intermittent crashes and improve overall gameplay smoothness. For instance, recent updates have addressed driver timeouts and application crashes specifically with AMD Radeon™ 7000 series products. Players should regularly check for driver updates through their respective GPU’s management software to ensure they are benefiting from the latest performance optimizations and bug fixes.

Conclusion

Throughout this guide, we've explored various strategies to troubleshoot and solve the array of bugs players encounter in Helldivers 2, from server connectivity issues to disruptive gameplay glitches. By systematically addressing these challenges—whether through straightforward actions like restarting the game or by delving into more complex solutions such as adjusting game settings and file integrity—we aim to enhance the overall gaming experience. Our discussions also highlighted the importance of community feedback and developer updates in navigating and rectifying these problems, reinforcing a cooperative approach to improving game performance.

As we conclude, it's clear that while Helldivers 2 offers an exciting and engaging gaming experience, like any sophisticated game, it is not without its technical hurdles. The solutions outlined here serve as a starting point for players facing difficulties, offering a roadmap to a smoother, more enjoyable gaming journey. Moreover, the emphasis on further research and community engagement suggests an ongoing process of refinement and improvement. Ultimately, by leveraging these insights, players can look forward to less interrupted gameplay and more time enjoying the strategic depth that Helldivers 2 has to offer.

FAQs

Q: What tactics are effective against the bugs in Helldivers 2?
A: In Helldivers 2, the Terminids, commonly referred to as bugs, are particularly vulnerable to fire. These creatures are less armored compared to the Automatons, primarily relying on melee attacks. Targeting the legs of medium-sized Terminids can be effective as these areas are less armored, which helps in slowing them down.

Q: What should I do if Helldivers 2 fails to start?
A: If Helldivers 2 is not launching, first ensure that both the game and your gaming system are updated to the latest versions. Additionally, check if your firewall or antivirus software is blocking the game. You might need to disable these programs temporarily to see if that resolves the issue. If it does, consider adding an exception for Helldivers 2 in your firewall or antivirus settings.

Q: Is there a bug with the major order in Helldivers 2?
A: Yes, players have encountered issues with the Major Order in Helldivers 2, where Bile Titans and breach holes appear directly on the objective. This has led to the Major Order being described as overly difficult and almost impossible to complete, especially on higher difficulty levels.

Q: What are the names of the bugs in Helldivers 2?
A: The insectoid alien faction in Helldivers 2 is known as the Terminids, or simply as the Bugs. This faction includes a variety of creatures from small Scavengers to the large Bile Titans, which are capable of destroying buildings.