It’s an exhilarating period for fans of Helldivers, as Arrowhead has recently spiced things up with the introduction of urban landscapes, a sleek recon vehicle, and a brand new adversary faction. Initially, the tale of the Illuminate making their comeback to the galaxy seemed like it would be a brief affair, packed into a weekend. Their dramatic entrance was first announced at The Game Awards, and they soon made landfall on Calypso. Helldivers managed to defend Calypso, but only by the skin of their teeth. Now, these crafty space squids have set their sights on a fresh target: the black hole that has replaced Meridia.
This scenario calls for a bit of backstory. The game’s first two enemy groups were the Terminids and the Automatons. The Terminids, particularly, have captured players’ imaginations; even when Super Earth commands its soldiers to tackle robot threats, many still prefer skirmishes in Terminid space for that classic Starship Troopers vibe. Their persistent interest led the Terminids to undergo rapid, fierce evolutions. Intel from Super Earth identified a standout planet, Meridia, classified as a Supercolony.
Arrowhead orchestrated an exciting, time-sensitive event that challenged players to saturate Meridia with Dark Fluid, bravely holding off Supercolony forces during this bold venture. Success came at a pivotal moment, transforming Meridia into a black hole. This scenario brings to mind Chekhov’s Gun—if you introduce an intriguing element early, it needs to play a crucial role later. So here are the Helldivers, dealing with Arrowhead’s enigmatic Black Hole. Naturally, a mysterious cosmic anomaly lures in those ominous squids.
Unlike their enemy counterparts, the Illuminate aren’t laying claim to any specific swath of space. Instead, they’re executing hit-and-run raids on Super Earth territories, starting with Calypso and advancing eastward. Initially, this strategy seemed unremarkable until the community started noticing peculiar changes with Meridia. The black hole has taken on a purplish hue, grown brighter, and is ominously pulling in debris at an unsettling pace.
Up until now, Helldivers have managed to defend Terminid zones against the Illuminate—a curious twist after so many battles against bugs—and have driven them away once more. As Operation Squid Game wrapped up around 4:30 p.m. ET on Friday, the Illuminate slipped off the radar yet again. But something tells me this narrative is far from its conclusion. There are likely gaps in the Illuminate’s lineup, and I’m betting that they’ll soon introduce some new, fearsome bio-organic threats. On the bright side, players now have the option to acquire that nifty vehicle as a Stratagem, ready to deploy at any moment. You have to find those silver linings when you’re knee-deep in a three-pronged galactic struggle for freedom.
