The Helldivers 2 community was prepared for an all-out invasion once Arrowhead announced that the Illuminate would be coming in the Omens of Tyranny update. With retired Helldivers rejoining the effort, Super Earth repelled the initial attack in just a day. However, despite bracing for a massive second wave attack, none has come.
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Helldivers 2 was once an uplifting and collaborative live-service gem, but since launch, the community has become a hotbed of outrage.
The Illuminate have been content with skirmishes on the outer rim of the galaxy, with relatively lighter troops, which sometimes feel easier to repel than even the Terminids. That, along with whatever is brewing in the Meridia black hole, players have been feeling like something is off. While there are a bunch of theories floating around, one that we saw on Reddit is by far the most chilling.
The Illuminate Isn’t The Real Enemy
Simply put, the theory that Ryukage06 has put forward is that the Illuminate aren’t attacking, they’re fleeing. After getting absolutely destroyed in the First Galactic War, an advanced species like the Illuminate would know better than to attack Super Earth with such underwhelming force. They have speculated that the Illuminate is actually running from an even bigger threat to its existence than Super Earth.
The theory suggests that this unknown enemy has taken advantage of the Illuminate’s weakened state after the first war, forcing them to either flee with whatever few forces they have left, or to bait this enemy into an all-out war with Super Earth.
As for who or what this possible enemy is, they’ve speculated that it might be “some kind of bio-horror, like the Flood from Halo, or the Thing from John Carpenter’s ’80s Sci-fi Horror [classic]. This enemy would be easy (easier) for the devs to make in game, because they need only redesign/reskin existing enemies to look like horribly mutated versions of the originals.”
Of course, all of this is speculation, but Ryukage06 has backed up their theories with a few pointers that you can look up on the Reddit post.
Another possible new faction that players have been speculating about is a race inspired by the cosmic horror of H.P. Lovecraft. Literal ancient demonic enemies like Cthulhu and his minions would make for a fresh and interesting new enemy to drop a 500Kg Bomb upon.
Whatever this possible new enemy is, you can rest assured that it will never be able to shake our liberty or take our freedom.
Helldivers 2
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. Helldivers 2 features Arrowhead’s best cooperative gameplay yet. Collaboration will be vital: Teams will synergize on loadouts, strategize their approach for each mission, and complete objectives together.