Helldivers 2 players have faced a lot recently. For the first time since the game launched, an enemy faction made its way to Managed Democracy's doorstep. The Illuminate brought the fight to Super Earth, marking a major milestone for Helldivers 2. Ever since the Illuminate was added to the equation, players have had to face one of the galaxy's toughest forces yet, and it might get even more challenging in the future.
Prominent leaker Iron_S1ghts recently shared four leaked images revealing a potential new Illuminate enemy. Called the Observer, this fresh threat works a lot like Watchers, but they can also shoot laser beams. If facing the Illuminate wasn't difficult enough, now there's a flying laser beam-wielding enemy type potentially on the horizon. Helldivers 2 is no stranger to bringing updates that have brave Helldivers running for the hills, but the potential for the Illuminate to become even stronger is a sweat-inducing thought.
Helldivers 2's Best Weapon Against Illuminate is Not for Everyone
One primary weapon in Helldivers 2 is ideal for dealing with the Illuminate's most dangerous units, but it admittedly comes with some drawbacks.
The Illuminate Has Been a Force to Be Reckoned With, and Helldivers 2 Could Be Turning Up the Dial On the Faction's Difficulty
The Arrival of the Illuminate Has Brought Carnage
- The Illuminate were added to the game on December 12, 2024.
Last year's Game Awards were filled with surprises, but the announcement and shadow drop of the Illuminate was a big moment for Helldivers 2 players. It marked the first time that a brand-new faction was introduced to the story, and developer Arrowhead Game Studios definitely didn't hold back.
Granted, Terminids and Automatons are challenging in their own right, but the Illuminate brought forth something completely different. The highly-advanced race pulled the rug out from under a lot of players who had grown comfortable with Helldivers 2's formula. Taking on the Illuminate is no easy feat, and if Arrowhead Game Studios really does up the ante like the leak suggests, then Helldivers 2 players could be in for another fresh challenge.
It's already going to be incredibly difficult to one-up the battle for Super Earth, but shaking up the Illuminate lineup may be a solid way to keep players coming back for more while also getting a bit of a break from the chaos of defending the home planet. Adding the Observer to the equation wouldn't exactly be a breather, but it would at least offer a challenge without players having to gear up for another Super Earth defense this soon after the original assault.
Now that Helldivers 2 has introduced a third faction, it leaves the door open for more enemy factions to be introduced down the road. It's unclear what a hypothetical fourth faction could be, but rebel radio broadcasts that have been present in the game could hint at a faction of Super Earth defectors.
Ever since the Illuminate was added to the equation, players have had to face one of the galaxy's toughest forces yet.
The Rest of the Year Could Have Plenty of Surprises in Store for Helldivers 2
Introducing a battle on Super Earth's soil this early into the game's life cycle is a bold choice. Arrowhead Game Studios could risk pulling the trigger too quickly on such an event, but if this battle means anything, it's likely that it was simply setting the stage for something bigger. As Helldivers 2 continues to add fresh content, there's no telling what other tricks Arrowhead Games Studio has up its sleeve later in the year.
Since the game arrived, Helldivers 2 has continued to surprise. Arrowhead Game Studios has succeeded at using the live-service model to its advantage, approaching it as a tool for story-building before utilizing it as a way to push controversial features like microtransactions. Of course, in-game purchases aren't absent from the game, but the story and its events are the primary focus, and it's kept gameplay exciting and oftentimes unpredictable.
Helldivers 2
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 91%
- Released
- February 8, 2024
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Arrowhead Game Studios, Nixxes
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment, PlayStation Publishing
WHERE TO PLAY
The Galaxy’s Last Line of Offence. Enlist in the Helldivers and join the fight for freedom across a hostile galaxy in a fast, frantic, and ferocious third-person shooter.
URGENT BROADCAST – SUPER EARTH ARMED FORCES
Freedom. Peace. Democracy. Your Super Earth-born rights. The key pillars of our civilization. Of our very existence. But the war rages on. And everything is once again under threat.
Join the greatest military force the galaxy has ever seen and make this a safe and free place to live.
BECOME A LEGEND
You will be assembled into squads of up to four Helldivers and assigned strategic missions. Watch each other’s back – friendly fire is an unfortunate certainty of war, but victory without teamwork is impossible.
LOADOUTS
Rain down freedom from above, sneak through enemy territory, or grit your teeth and charge head-first into the jaws of combat. How you deliver liberty is your choice; you’ll have access to a wide array of explosive firepower, life-saving armor and battle-changing stratagems… the jewel in every Helldiver’s arsenal.
REQUISITION
Super Earth recognises your hard work with valuable Requisition. Use it to access different rewards that benefit you, your squad, your destroyer ship and our overall war effort.
THREATS
Everything on every planet wants you dead. That’s what we’re dealing with. Each enemy has distinct and unpredictable characteristics, tactics, and behavior – but they all fight ferociously and without fear or morality.
THE GALACTIC WAR
Capturing enemy planets, defending against invasions, and completing missions will contribute to our overall effort. This war will be won or lost depending on the actions of everyone involved.
We stand together, or we fall apart.
- Engine
- bitsquid
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Extraction Shooter, Action, Science Fiction
