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Helldivers 2takes you across alien planets overrun with massive bug-like creatures and rampaging machines. Dropping the most powerful stratagems on them is only the first step in spreading freedom and democracy across the galaxy. You also need to know the best PC settings to ensure an optimal gameplay experience.
Take note that the most recent updateintroduces a variety of performance improvementsfor further stability across all platforms. These updates are likely to keep rolling in as more players decide to join the Galactic War against the Terminids and Automatons. Make sure to tweak your graphics settings to lay waste to the enemy factions at the maximum FPS possible.
Updated July 03, 2025, by Saqib Mansoor:Thanks to a series of patches and updates, Helldivers 2 is now in a much better state than its early launch days. It runs smoothly on even older hardware provided that you use optimized settings. However, the recent Illuminate update has partially affected many players, dropping FPS on the new urban maps. The settings below have been updated to reflect the recent changes so you get the most FPS possible from your system.
Best Optimized Graphics Settings for Max FPS in Helldivers 2
The goal here is to find a middle ground while optimizingHelldivers 2. This cooperative shooter should feel smooth and pump the maximum FPS possible on medium- to low-end systems while looking visually appealing.
Consider the settings mentioned below as a starting point. They should give you around 70-80 FPS on an agingNvidia GeForce GTX 1080or AMD equivalent. Feel free to tweak them based on your hardware or the performance that you are aiming for.
Before jumping into the graphics settings, head into “Display” first to set your “Render Scale” setting to either Ultra Quality or Native. The former will boost your FPS count while making the graphics a bit blurry. The latter will do the opposite by making the game look stunning but at the cost of a dozen frames or more. You can decide for yourself if those lost frames are worth keeping.
Remember to update your graphics drivers from the official websites of either Nvidia or AMD. Playing any game with outdated drivers may cause performance issues.
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1
Vegetation and Rubble Density
Async Compute
No
Thenew Illuminate city mapsare known to give terrible frame rates to some players inHelldivers 2. This issue is pretty widespread, so players with new and old hardware are impacted equally. Unfortunately, the root cause remains unknown.
While some players have managed to fix their FPS drops on the Illuminate maps, the said fixes are random. So, they are either not permanent or for everyone. Hence, the bottom line is that you have no choice but to wait for a performance patch to hitHelldivers 2.
Low FPS and Performance Fixes in Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2is an extremely CPU-intensive game, meaning that it will be working at maximum capacity alongside the GPU at all times. If you are experiencing low frame rates or stuttering issues even after using the aforementioned graphics settings, check therecommended hardware requirements.
Helldivers 2might also become bloated with each patch. For players playing since launch who meet the recommended hardware specifications, go through the following steps as a last resort to improve performance.
Implement the Nvidia App Fix
The all-new Nvidia app recently moved out of beta to replace the previous GeForce Experience app. Unfortunately, its overlay was discovered to becausing FPS drops in all games. To fix that, head into Settings > Features > Overlay> Game Filters and Photo Mode and turn it off. The latest Nvidia GPU drivers contain the same fix as well. Either way, disable the overlay to boost your FPS inHelldivers 2.
Clear the Shader Cache
Hold the Windows Key + R to open the search box, type “%appdata%”, open the Arrowhead folder, and delete the shader_cache folder. The next time you launchHelldivers 2, the game will automatically recreate the folder by only downloading the necessary files.
Switch Between DirectX 11 and 12
WhenHelldivers 2was released, many players discovered thatforcing the game to run in DirectX11 instead of 12 gave them extra FPS.This trick, however, was broken for some players following a few updates down the road. You can check for yourself which DirectX version works best.
Right-clickHelldivers 2in your Steam Library and go into Properties. Type “–d3dx11” in the launch options. If this causes issues, remove the command to continue in DirectX 12.
Check the CPU and GPU Temperatures
Open the Task Manager or any other monitoring tool to ensure both the CPU and GPU are not overheating. SinceHelldivers 2is always running at maximum load on both pieces of hardware, high temperatures might be responsible for freezing the game.
Rollback GPU Drivers
It’s a good habit to keep your GPU drivers updated, but sometimes the latest version can cause optimization issues. Try rolling back your GPU drivers to the previous version to see if there are any improvements.
Best Gameplay Settings to Change in Helldivers 2
In addition to tweaking your graphics, some settings can be changed for quality-of-life improvements. These settings are not aimed at increasing your frames per second. Instead, they enhance gameplay aspects such as visibility, aim, navigation, etc.
Vertical Field of View
90
Improves your overall peripheral visibility by displaying more of the world around you at the cost of a fish-eye effect.
Display Mode
Fullscreen
Ensures better immersion and performance without worrying about notifications from apps running in the background.
Framerate Limit
Off
If you must cap your FPS, do it from the Nvidia or AMD control panel.
Voice Chat
Push-To-Talk
Have mercy on your teammates by not sending annoying static and noise during skirmishes.
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Reticle Visibility
Visible
Improves your aim by showing your cross-hair all the time, even when you are sprinting or hip-firing.
Compass Ordinal Directions
Improves communications by adding additional directions, such as northwest and southeast, to your compass.
Map Navigation Mode
Separated
Allows you to quicklyping and mark locations on the mini-mapwithout needing additional controls.
Reticle Color
Upon your preference
Helps to stick your aim on priority targets when groups of enemies are upon you.
Mouse Smoothing
Disable both features to increase your accuracy. This ensures that there are no random movement adjustments made by the game.
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Toggle HUD
Mouse 5 (Default)
Helldivers 2features a no-HUD option that you can use to take screenshots or improve immersion. Head into Change Keybindings and scroll all the way down to set your preferred key.
How to Show FPS Counter and Ping in Helldivers 2
Something else important that does not appear in the settings is the option to enable an FPS counter inHelldivers 2. You can do that by pressing eitherF2 or F5on your keyboard in-game. You will be able to see not only your FPS in real time but also other metrics related to your hardware and internet connection. That includes the amount of VRAM used, threads rendered, packet loss suffered, and most importantly, your ping/latency.
