While Helldivers 2 plays are still preoccupied with the looming forces of both the Automatons and Terminids, one player shared their discovery that lends even more validity that another enemy faction may soon join the game. As the army of Super Earth continues to wage war amongst the stars to spread freedom and democracy, Helldivers rarely have a chance to check in on their home. Given the wartorn planets that predominately make up the galaxy, it stands to reason that some might want to see what’s happening on Super Earth but they may be surprised by what they find.
Shared to Reddit by WitchBaneHunter, the user shared a screenshot of Super Earth as it’s represented on the Galactic War Chart and discovered that while no Automatons or Terminds have been killed on the planet, 16 Illuminate have met their end.
Given that the alien race isn’t included in Helldivers 2 at the time of writing, the community is now speculating as to why Super Earth feels the need to quantify how many of the faction have been killed and what that could mean for the future. Super Earth is the only planet in the system with any confirmed Illuminate kills at the time of writing.
Developer Arrowhead Studios has yet to comment on the discovery of the Illuminate, prompting the Helldivers community to begin hypothesizing about what it could mean. Many believe the enemy faction has somehow infiltrated Super Earth and is using the war effort on the galaxy’s edges as a distraction to embed themselves into the planet’s upper echelon. The working theory at the moment is that players will be forced to the very rim of the system before the Illuminate reveals themselves, forcing every Helldiver to retake all interior zones while trying to retain their control of outer sectors.
What this means for the game is anyone’s guess as Helldivers 2 has been dropping hints about the Illuminate since it launched in early 2024. Aside from various broadcasts warning that the race could be lying in wait amongst the stars, some Helldivers insist they’ve been targetted by strange blue lasers, a form of weapon that neither the Automatons nor Terminids use. The discovery of the kill count on Super Earth could just be Arrowhead’s latest hint that the war effort is about to become even more difficult.
Helldivers 2 has also made a name for itself by quietly adding in new features with every patch, allowing the community to discover new weapons and enemy types. The most recent update included two new Automaton units, the Factory Strider and Gunship, that weren’t documented in any patch notes and thus took players by surprise. Whether the Illuminate is added in such a way remains to be seen but it feels like something that could very easily happen at this point.
Source: WitchBaneHunter/Reddit