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Helldivers 2’s update adds the dreaded Illuminate faction, plus city maps and bouncy jeepsThe squids, they are here

The squids, they are here

Image credit:Sony

Image credit:Sony

An Illuminate warrior with glowing eyes in Helldivers 2

Arrowhead and Sony have released a newHelldivers 2update that introduces the long-rumoured third faction, the Illuminate. Titled Omens of Tyranny, the update also stirs in city maps and a driveable jeep with a mounted gun that immediately reminds me of Halo’s Warthog, and is hopefully just as fragile and bouncy. Here’s a trailer.

Helldivers 2 - Omens of Tyranny | PS5 & PC GamesWatch on YouTube

Helldivers 2 - Omens of Tyranny | PS5 & PC Games

Cover image for YouTube video

And here are some smoking bullet holes - I mean, feature bullet points.

  • Fast Recon Vehicle: The new Jeep-like car can be found in new urban areas, and after we complete a certain Major Order in the future, it’ll be available as a Stratagem.

  • Urban environments: Blocks of midrise concrete buildings provide some new roads to drive your new car on, if you can keep it upright.

The Illuminate have been on the horizon for so long I’m honestly already sick of them, but those honking great tripods certainly look fearsome.

It was way back in February of this year when an in-game broadcast from Arrowheadhinted at the Illuminate’s return, with Super Earth saying the rumours were simply the “work of dissidents”. Later gunsadded to the gamefeatured arc technology, which seemed a subtle clue about the Illuminate floating around out there. Let’s not forget the Major Order that turned a planet into ablack hole, ripe for alien activity. And then in September, players reported sightings of the faction on theGalactic War Map.

The Illuminate appeared in the first game too, equipped with tesla beams, cloaking devices and the tripod mechas. They presented a different challenge to the bugs and the bots, and the same is true here. It’s not clear whether they can mind-controlHelldivers, but I do hope that’s a possibility.

You can keep up with Helldivers 2 over onSteam.

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