Helldivers 2 players struggling to launch the game after its switch from GameGuard to Easy Anti-Cheat now have a new checklist from Arrowhead. A separate hotfix, version 7.2.1, addresses one specific crash when another player joins or leaves a squad. Those are different problems: the patch note does not claim to fix every startup failure.

The Official Arrowhead crash-troubleshooting guide was updated on October 23, following the October 20 move to EAC. The studio’s Steam announcement says the transition is intended to improve game integrity; it also warns that some mods may need updates. For players, the practical question is which issue they are actually seeing—and which step is proportionate.

What hotfix 7.2.1 actually fixes

Arrowhead’s October 22 Official patch notes for Devoid of Liberty: 7.2.1 identify one crash: the game could fail when another player joined or left a squad. That is useful if the failure happens during squad changes, but it is not evidence that the hotfix resolves launch crashes, mod conflicts, or every problem appearing after version 7.2.0.

The larger October 20 update also introduced Easy Anti-Cheat, the Scope of Authority Premium Warbond, and balance changes for weapons and stratagems. Arrowhead’s FAQ says the EAC change adds no new hardware requirements and that Steam Deck and Linux compatibility remains unchanged. PC Gamer’s independent coverage of the transition likewise highlighted the studio’s warning that some cosmetic mods could stop working.

If the game will not launch

Arrowhead’s support page gives these checks in sequence. Work through the initial list first; deleting the game’s bin and data folders is a later escalation, not the opening move.

  1. Remove leftover mod files. If you have ever installed mods, purge every mod file from the game installation; uninstalling a mod manager may leave files behind. Arrowhead specifically calls out ReShade and OptiScaler and lists dxgi.dll, d3d9.dll, d3d11.dll, reshade32.dll, and reshade64.dll for removal from the game’s bin folder when present. Avoid deleting unrelated files.
  2. Back up, then clear the game’s AppData folder. Arrowhead instructs players to delete %appdata%\Arrowhead\Helldivers2. Its guide does not itemize what personal settings are stored there, so copy the folder somewhere safe first if you want to preserve any local configuration; deleting it may remove those settings.
  3. Remove the old anti-cheat files. In Steam, right-click HELLDIVERS 2, choose Manage → Browse local files, open EasyAntiCheat, and run GGuninst.exe. Only if GameGuard files remain, delete bin\GameGuard as Arrowhead directs.
  4. Restart Windows. Choose Restart, not Shut down; Arrowhead says these are different for this troubleshooting step.
  5. Verify the installation in Steam. Open the game’s Properties → Installed Files → Verify integrity of game files and let the check finish.
  6. Try launching the game again.

If the game still will not start, Arrowhead’s next step is more destructive: use Manage → Browse local files, delete the bin and data folders, return to Properties → Installed Files, verify the files again, and retry the launch. If it still fails and the crash-report handler asks you to create a memory dump, contact Player Support and attach that dump to the ticket, as Arrowhead advises.

Match the fix to the symptom

The distinction can save time. A crash during a squadmate joining or leaving is the case named in 7.2.1. A game that will not start is the reason to consult Arrowhead’s EAC-specific troubleshooting sequence. A cosmetic mod that no longer works may need an update from its creator; Arrowhead says mod use is at the player’s discretion and does not certify individual mods as safe.

That does not establish that EAC caused every crash reported after the update. The studio has published a targeted hotfix and a separate troubleshooting page, not a blanket resolution. Start with the step that matches the failure, keep the more disruptive folder deletions as escalation, and check the official support page for any newer guidance before changing the installation.