Being a Helldiver just got thrilling with Arrowhead’s recent updates that bring in urban maps, a slick recon vehicle, and a fresh enemy faction into the mix. Initially, it appeared the Illuminate’s return to the galaxy was a short-lived drama, unfolding over one intense weekend. Their grand entrance came right after an announcement at The Game Awards. They immediately set their sights on Calypso, and Helldivers, in a nail-biting defense, managed to protect the planet just in time. Now, those cunning space squids have redirected their gaze towards another intriguing target: the black hole lurking where Meridia once existed.
For those needing a bit of a refresher, the game initially had two adversary factions: the Terminids and the Automatons. The Terminids, in particular, have earned a spot as fan favorites. Even when orders come in from Super Earth to battle robots, many players prefer to stay in Terminid territory, letting out their inner Starship Trooper. To enhance the challenge, the Terminids recently evolved quickly and fiercely in response to this player attention. Super Earth intelligence flagged Meridia as a key Terminid stronghold, a Supercolony no less.
In response, Arrowhead hosted an exciting, time-limited event where players poured Dark Fluid into Meridia, fending off Supercolony forces to carry out this bold mission. The strategy worked, with Meridia transforming into a black hole. This sets the stage for a classic storytelling device: just like Chekhov’s Gun, if you create a mysterious space anomaly, it’s bound to catch the interest of some malevolent space creatures.
Unlike the other enemy factions, the Illuminate haven’t staked a claim over specific space regions. Instead, they prefer hit-and-run assaults on Super Earth worlds, starting from Calypso and progressively moving east. Initially, this seemed like a typical maneuver until fans started noticing oddities around Meridia. The once-black hole started glowing purple, becoming brighter, and began pulling in debris at a rapid pace.
Thus far, Helldivers have successfully protected Terminid frontiers from the Illuminate, which feels ironic after spending months battling these insectoid threats. Yet, following the conclusion of Operation Squid Game at around 4:30 p.m. ET on Friday, the Illuminate have quietly slipped off the radar again. But I’ve got a feeling this saga is far from finished. It’s quite likely we’ll soon see some unsettling bio-organic terrors bolstering the Illuminate’s ranks. On the bright side, players can now conveniently acquire the new vehicle as a Stratagem and hit the cosmic highways at will. It’s essential to find the silver lining while navigating a chaotic three-way space war for the ideals of democracy.
