Helldivers 2 Error Code 116 (Fix Inside)

Helldivers 2 is a better and improved sequel to the 2015 original title that offers players a stunning gaming experience in the hostile galaxy. Though Arrowhead Game Studios has developed this game for the PS5 and Windows platforms only, it seems that there are several issues or bugs present since it was released. Apart from crashes, lags, and matchmaking errors, plenty of players have also started reporting about the Helldivers 2 Error Code 116 on their PCs.

As per reports, the specific Error Code 116 may appear while players trying to play Helldivers 2 which is also known as the ‘GameGuard Error’. This error can be frustrating at times and prevent players from getting into the gaming sessions whatsoever. If we take a quick look at the error message, it says “Fatal Error! GameGuard: Initialize error. Try rebooting or closing all programs that might interfere and try again. Error code: 116”. Though it suggests restarting the game or closing all conflicting programs, that might not work for everyone.

Steps to Fix Helldivers 2 Error Code 116

The chances are high that somehow your temporary system glitch, an outdated game version, corrupted game files, missing system admin access, conflicts with the VPN service, issues with the GameGuard, poor internet connection, unnecessary background tasks, antivirus blocking, issues with the game installation, etc can be possible reasons behind the Error Code 116 in Helldivers 2.

If you’re also one of the victims to encounter such an error then don’t worry. Fortunately, here we’ve shared with you some workarounds that should come in handy. Make sure to follow all troubleshooting steps until the error has been fixed. So, without further ado, let’s jump into it.

1. Restart the PC

You’ll need to restart the computer manually to ensure there is no temporary system conflict or cache data issue that can cause game-launching errors. Rebooting the system will help in fixing multiple performance issues with the programs.

2. Run Helldivers 2 as an Administrator

You might also need to run the Helldivers 2 game application manually with the system admin’s permission to fix potential issues with the program startup. You should follow the steps below to ensure your game application is enabled for the system admin privilege. To do this:

Open the Steam client > Go to Library.
Right-click on Helldivers 2 > Go to Manage.
Click on Browse local files to open the game installation directory.
Right-click on the Helldivers2.exe app.
Go to Properties > Navigate to the Compatibility tab.

Enable the Run this program as an administrator option.
Click on Apply and select OK to save changes.

3. Check Your Internet Connection

In some cases, your internet connection may also trouble a lot due to a poor or unstable network. You’ll need to check the internet connection properly to ensure there is no conflict with the data speed and stability. If your network is having issues, you can try contacting the internet service provider (ISP) to get technical assistance on it. Otherwise, try switching your wired network to a wireless network or vice versa to cross-check the issue. You can also try using another network to check the problem.

4. Update Helldivers 2

Sometimes an outdated game patch version can also cause several issues with the game running conflicts on the PC. We’ll recommend our readers check for the available game patch updates by following the steps below.

Open the Steam client > Go to Library.
Right-click on Helldivers 2.
Click on Properties > Click on Updates.
Now, go to Automatic Updates.
Select Only update this game when I launch it.
Once done, reboot the system to apply changes.
When the game update is available, it’ll be installed automatically.

5. Scan and Repair the Game Files

Corrupted or missing game files installed on the PC might trigger multiple issues with the game startup errors up to some extent. You can check the steps below to scan and repair the installed game files on the Steam launcher.

Open the Steam client.
Go to the Library.
Right-click on the Helldivers 2 game.
Go to Properties.
Now, click on Installed Files.
Click on Verify integrity of game files.
Wait for the process to complete.
Once done, restart the system to apply changes.

6. Try Enabling and Disabling VPN

Several Helldivers 2 players have found this method useful to easily avoid potential server connectivity issues. You should try enabling the VPN service and turning it off can fix the error code 116.

7. Delete GameGuard

You should head over to the GameGuard folder in Helldivers 2 then delete it manually by following the steps below to refresh the installed game files on the PC. Once done, verify the game files via Steam and then launch the game again.

Open the Steam launcher > Go to Library.
Right-click on Helldivers 2.
Head over to Properties > Click on Local Files.
Click on Browse Local Files.
It’ll open the Helldivers 2 installation directory.
Open the bin folder > Locate the GameGuard folder.
Delete the folder > Verify the integrity of the game files.
Once done, reboot the PC to apply changes.

8. Close the Nprotec Task

It’s also recommended to close the ‘Nprotec’ process on your Windows system can help in fixing the error code 116. You can check the steps below to do so:

Open the Start menu > Search and open the Task Manager.
Now, go to the Processes tab > Search for the nprotec task.
Right-click on the nprotec.exe task.
Click on End task from the dropdown menu.
Once done, try launching Helldivers 2 again to check for the issue.

9. Allow GameGuard in Antivirus

We also suggest you allow the Helldivers 2 GameGuard application as an exception to the antivirus software. In some cases, aggressive antivirus blocking can cause multiple conflicts with the game application startup. To do so:

Press the Win+I keys to open Settings.
Click on Privacy & Security.
Now, click on Windows Security.
Select Virus & Threat Protection.
Click on Manage Ransomware Protection.
Turn ON the Controlled Folder Access option.
If prompted, click on Yes to proceed.
Go to Allow an app through controlled folder access.
If prompted, click on Yes to proceed.
Next, click on Add an allowed app.
Head over to the installed game directory.
- It’ll be found in Steam\steamapps\common\Helldivers 2\GameGuard.
Browse and select the GameGuard.exe application.
Click on Open to add it.
Once done, reboot the PC to apply changes.

10. Check the Server Status

Issues with the server operations can mostly trouble a lot of Helldivers 2 players up to some extent. You can visit the official @helldivers2 account on X (formerly known as Twitter) to get all the notifications for server downtime or other technical glitches. In case, several players report the server outage then you can also submit the report. For server-related issues, keep waiting for a couple of hours and then try again later. If everything is fine, you can head over to the next workaround.

11. Reinstall Helldivers 2

If none of the workarounds come in handy then ensure to uninstall and reinstall the Helldivers 2 game on your PC by following the steps below. Any kind of game installation issues or conflicts might trouble the game startup or error code 116.

Open the Steam client on your PC.
Go to Library > Right-click on Helldivers 2.
Head over to Manage.
Click on Uninstall > If prompted, click on Uninstall.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete it.
Once done, restart the PC to apply changes.
Launch Steam > Reinstall Helldivers 2 on another drive.
Finally, run the game and check for the error.

12. Contact Support

Last but not least, you should contact Steam Support or PlayStation Support to get the forum support. Additionally, you can submit a support ticket for the same error to receive further resolution. Make sure to submit the ticket so that developers can investigate the problem and provide a better solution for the same.

That’s it, guys. We assume this guide was helpful to you. For additional queries, you can comment below.