Just a couple of days after Arrowhead Game Studios unleashed the much-anticipated Illuminate faction during The Game Awards, the determined soldiers of Super Earth have succeeded in repelling the squid-like alien invasion of Calypso. Their triumph meant completing a significant Major Order, earning every member of the Super Earth fleet 50 Warbond Medals, alongside a new stratagem for the soon-to-come Fast Recon Vehicle that players were stumbling upon during their missions.
The mission to fend off the Illuminate’s offensive was nothing short of intense—possibly the most intense—campaign in the Galactic War so far. Helldivers battled relentlessly, day and night, for over 48 hours, managing to secure victory just 10 minutes before the Level 96 invasion was about to be successful. It’s safe to say that Lady Liberty pulled through in the nick of time.
Helldivers 2 found its footing on Steam thanks to the Omens of Tyranny update, drawing numerous players to the fray against the Illuminate and to try out gear from the new Urban Legend battle pass-like Premium Warbond. Johan Pilestedt, the chief creative officer at Arrowhead, took to social media to reveal that over a million players joined the fight 24 hours post-Illuminate arrival. Data from SteamDB highlighted that between 80,000 and 130,000 Super Earth marines were battling concurrently throughout the Major Order, peaking at 150,153 around Saturday evening. The game even made its way back into the Steam Top Seller list, managing to outshine new hits like Marvel Rivals and Path of Exile 2 at one point.
(Image credit: PlayStation Studios)
Now that Calypso is free from the Illuminate’s grasp, the faction is temporarily unavailable for combat. It’s admittedly a bit disappointing, especially considering it brought a fresh dynamic to the game, offering exactly what players desired in a new enemy type. Despite relentlessly fending off Voteless hordes and Overseer troops, the experience has been exhilarating, leaving many eager for more action.
Though Super Earth High Command insists this was merely a "small cell of Illuminate forces" left over from the First Galactic War in the original Helldivers, and they’ll be eliminated soon, their return seems inevitable. It’s only a matter of time before these alien invaders make their comeback.
Currently, a new Major Order is yet to be issued, leaving Helldivers to turn their attention back to battling Terminids or Automaton forces, who are dangerously close to Super Earth. However, it’s only a matter of hours before the Illuminate are expected to commence a larger offensive in the galaxy’s southern sectors.
(Image credit: PlayStation Studios)
The Calypso Major Order was hands-down one of the most thrilling in Helldivers 2 history. It was fantastic seeing the community rally together, devising strategies, crafting loadouts, and sharing tips to conquer the Illuminate’s unique army mix, which included zombie-like hordes, tough melee and airborne shock troops, and imposing walkers that challenged slow movements. Participating in the eleventh hour was a thrilling experience, and my friends and I truly felt our efforts contributed to the community’s success when we churned through several operations that afternoon.
Overall, this event perfectly closed what has been an incredible opening year for Arrowhead’s PC and PS5 live-service co-op shooter. Even though I think it should have been nominated for Game of the Year—here’s a spicy opinion: it deserved it more than Black Myth: Wukong or the Elden Ring DLC—seeing it take home Best Multiplayer and Best Ongoing at The Game Awards was satisfying enough.
