Helldivers 2 has been surrounded by rumors and leaks regarding the introduction of the Illuminate faction, a technologically advanced alien race with psychic powers and a focus on defense. The faction was a key enemy in the first Helldivers game but has yet to be confirmed in the sequel, which launched in February. Despite ongoing speculation, Arrowhead Studios, the game’s developer, has not made any official announcements about bringing the Illuminate to Helldivers 2.
Recently, rumors were fueled by images that appeared on social media, showing the Helldivers 2 in-game map displaying a new enemy faction, with many speculating it was the Illuminate. A Reddit post by user NJRhailFire showcased a screenshot with a symbol resembling the Illuminate in the Rictus Sector, where this supposed new faction was located. This led to widespread excitement and speculation among fans.
However, Arrowhead quickly dismissed these rumors. The company swiftly removed the images from the game, but not before they had already been circulated widely across social media. In response to the growing buzz, Arrowhead CEO Shams Jorjani simply referred to the images as “fake news,” attempting to downplay the situation. An in-game message soon followed, aiming to explain away the apparent leak.
The official in-game message was a playful explanation of the supposed glitch. It mentioned a “service outage” in the game’s communication display, which was blamed on “organic tissue degradation on electronic equipment.” The message further added that a technician had been “stranded in the server farm” and died from “exposure,” with their family fined for damages. This humorous response from Arrowhead was seen as an attempt to discredit the leaks while poking fun at the situation.
Despite this denial, it remains unclear whether this incident was a genuine glitch or a teasing move by Arrowhead hinting at the Illuminate’s future introduction. Many players still believe the faction’s arrival is inevitable, given the amount of leaked and datamined information. However, as of now, there’s no concrete evidence to suggest the Illuminate will be added to the game soon.
While the recent rumors regarding the Illuminate in Helldivers 2 have been dismissed by Arrowhead, fans remain hopeful. The studio’s playful responses and the persistence of leaks suggest that the faction could eventually be introduced, but nothing has been officially confirmed. Until Arrowhead makes a formal announcement, the community remains in a state of anticipation.
