Helldivers 2 May 2025 Performance Fixes: How to Solve Stuttering, FPS Drops & Crashes

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Last updated: May 21, 2025

The Heart of Democracy update for Helldivers 2 (Heart of Democracy May 2025 update) delivered thrilling new content — including the arrival of the Illuminate, enhanced SEAF ally AI, and brutal new Stratagems — but it also introduced a host of performance issues across both PC and PS5 platforms. From severe FPS drops and shader stutter to frequent crashes in Hazard 10 missions, players are scrambling to restore stability.

This guide compiles developer-backed optimizations and community-tested fixes to help you eliminate the worst issues and return to smooth, high-FPS democracy spreading. 

⚠️ Quick Fix Summary

If you’re experiencing performance issues in Helldivers 2 after the May 2025 Heart of Democracy update, try these community-proven fixes:

  • ✅ Force DX11 via launch commands

  • ✅ Lower Shadow and Particle Quality

  • ✅ Update or roll back GPU drivers

  • ✅ Clear shader cache (PC)

  • ✅ Rebuild database on PS5

  • ✅ Disable Dolby Atmos (PS5 audio crash fix)

  • ✅ Cap FPS to 60–90 for stability

  • ✅ Monitor temperatures and close background apps

🛠️ Why Is Helldivers 2 Lagging After the May Update?

The Heart of Democracy patch introduced large-scale content like the Illuminate faction, SEAF combat allies, and new mission zones. But players across PC and PS5 are reporting performance issues:

  • 🔻 Severe FPS drops (even on RTX 4060 and RX 6700 XT)

  • 🎮 Stuttering in urban fights and during Illuminate Warp Ship sequences

  • ❌ Crashes on Hazard 10 missions and during orbital stratagem spam

  • 🧠 Memory leaks causing performance degradation over time

⚠️ Note: Arrowhead hasn’t officially acknowledged these problems in patch notes, but Steam and Reddit users confirm widespread regressions.

🖥️ Best Performance Fixes for Helldivers 2 on PC

Helldivers 2 May 2025 Performance Fixes
A. Force DX11 Mode

DirectX 12 is prone to shader stuttering and VRAM spikes. Use DX11 instead:

  1. Right-click Helldivers 2 in your Steam Library

  2. Select Properties > General > Launch Options

  3. Enter: --use-d3d11

B. Update or Roll Back GPU Drivers

  • NVIDIA: Version 555.85 (May 2025) improves particle rendering

  • AMD: Some players find better stability on Adrenalin 24.1.1 (older)

If the newest drivers cause issues, roll back via Device Manager or use the NVIDIA Driver Archive

C. Optimal In-Game Settings (FPS Boost)

Setting                                    Recommended Value
Render ScaleNative / Ultra Quality
Motion BlurOff
Depth of FieldOff
Shadow QualityLow
Particle QualityLow
Volumetric Fog / CloudsLowest
Screen-Space Global Illum.Off
Anti-AliasingOff (or On if native)

🔧 Set FPS cap to 60–90 depending on your GPU/CPU to avoid CPU desync.

D. Clear Shader Cache

Corrupt shader data can cause microstutters and crashes. Clean it:

  1. Press Win + R, type %appdata%, and hit Enter

  2. Go to: C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Local\Arrowhead\Helldivers2\shader_cache

  3. Delete everything in this folder

E. Disable Overlays & Background Apps

  • Turn off Steam, Discord, and NVIDIA GeForce Experience overlays

  • Close apps like Chrome and OBS that use heavy RAM or CPU

  • Temporarily disable antivirus real-time scanning (especially Webroot or Avast)

F. Monitor Temps and VRAM

  • Use MSI Afterburner or HWMonitor

  • Ideal CPU/GPU temps: Below 85°C

  • VRAM usage: 8GB+ recommended for 1080p on high settings

🎮 Helldivers 2 PS5 Performance Fixes

A. Rebuild Database (Safe Mode)

  1. Power off the PS5

  2. Hold power button until the second beep (Safe Mode)

  3. Connect controller via USB

  4. Choose Clear Cache and Rebuild Database

B. Disable Dolby Atmos

  • Go to Settings > Sound > Audio Output

  • Change to Linear PCM or Dolby Audio

Dolby Atmos is linked to audio-related crashes after the May update.

⚙️ Advanced Troubleshooting Tips

🔴 AMD-Specific Fixes

  • Turn off Global Illumination (linked to frequent crashes)

  • Cap FPS to 80–90 using Radeon Chill

  • Use Adrenalin 24.1.1 or older if 23.5.3 is unstable

🟢 Nvidia-Specific Fixes

  • Disable NVIDIA Overlay in GeForce Experience

  • Set power management to “Prefer Maximum Performance” in Nvidia Control Panel

🔄 Community-Driven Workarounds

A. Use Lossless Scaling (PC Only)

Lossless Scaling on Steam allows AI frame generation even on non-DLSS systems.

✅ Helps boost smoothness, especially on older GPUs.
⚠️ Avoid using this with in-game V-Sync or FPS cap — use external tools like RTSS instead.

B. Verify Game Files

  • Steam: Right-click > Properties > Installed Files > Verify Integrity

  • PS5: Delete and reinstall Helldivers 2 to clean cache files

🛠️ What’s Next from Arrowhead?

While this May patch didn’t include performance fixes, Arrowhead Studios has previously addressed:

  • 🧠 AI pathfinding lag (April Patch 01.002.200)

  • 🧼 Memory leaks and crash handling

  • 🛠️ DX12 rendering bugs

Expected in upcoming updates:

  • DX12 stutter fixes

  • Warp Ship optimization (Illuminate)

  • Audio crash fixes for Dolby Atmos

🌐 Helpful Community Links

🧠 Final Thoughts

Performance issues after a major patch can be frustrating — but with these tweaks, you’ll be back to spreading managed democracy at high FPS. Keep your drivers sharp, your GPU cool, and your shadows low.

🪂 Liberty demands smooth frames, Helldiver!

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