Helldivers fans have every reason to be thrilled these days. Arrowhead has been busy spicing things up with fresh urban landscapes, a sleek recon vehicle, and the introduction of a new third enemy faction. Initially, the excitement of the Illuminate’s return to the galaxy seemed like a fleeting weekend affair. They made a grand entrance right after a reveal at The Game Awards, set their sights on the planet Calypso, and nearly tipped the scales. Calypso barely survived the onslaught, saved in the nick of time. Now, these sneaky space squids are eyeing a new prize: the mysterious black hole where Meridia once existed.
Let’s break this down a bit. The primary adversaries in the game are the Terminids and the Automatons. The Terminids, especially, have captured players’ imaginations. Even when orders from Super Earth encourage players to focus on robotic foes, many are drawn to Terminid space to live out their sci-fi battles reminiscent of Starship Troopers. In response, the Terminids have evolved swiftly, presenting tougher challenges. Super Earth’s intelligence has pinpointed Meridia as a supercolony hotspot.
Arrowhead orchestrated an intriguing, time-bound event that tasked players with infusing Meridia with Dark Fluid, all while fending off the supercolony’s relentless forces. This daring mission culminated in the transformation of Meridia into a black hole. It’s much like Chekhov’s Gun: reveal a crucial plot element early on, and it’s bound to play a critical role later. Helldivers have now encountered Arrowhead’s cosmic creation, and it seems those nefarious squids couldn’t resist its allure.
Interestingly, the Illuminate have not carved out their own territory in space like others but rather engage in guerrilla-style raids on Super Earth locations. Their movements began with Calypso and have been spreading eastward. Initially, nothing seemed out of the ordinary until observers started noticing strange changes around Meridia. This black hole has turned a more striking shade of purple, glowing brighter, and ominously pulling in surrounding debris at an unsettling pace.
To date, the Helldivers have managed to defend Terminid domains against Illuminate incursions—a surprising twist after relentlessly battling these alien bugs for so long. However, after concluding Operation Squid Game around 4:30 p.m. ET on a recent Friday, the Illuminate slipped off the radar once more. But don’t be fooled; this saga is far from reaching its climax. There are evident gaps in the Illuminate’s arsenal that are likely to be filled with nightmarish new bio-organic foes soon enough. Meanwhile, players can now enjoy the recon vehicle as a Stratagem, ready to tear down those interstellar roads whenever they desire. Amidst this chaotic three-front war for democracy, it’s vital to cherish the small victories.
