Helldivers 2 teases Illuminate faction again following an incident that ‘spaghettified’ scientists

In an incident Super Earth has dubbed a “close call,” 12 scientists were “spaghettified” when a Dark Matter experiment created a micro black hole. Bummer. But here’s the good news: Helldivers 2 may finally get the Illuminate faction soon with this latest tease.

Helldivers 2 players have been embroiled in a new Major Order following the successful acquisition of a hot new mech Stratagem that everybody agrees is perfect. The order has Helldivers clearing the path to the planet Meridia so that Super Earth command can wipe out a Terminid Supercolony with a weapon made with Dark Matter. That’s all great, despite the unfortunate setback. But what’s important is where Dark Matter came from and how it teases future Helldivers 2 content.

Helldivers 2 shines light on the Illuminate

As explained in the mission briefing, Dark Matter is a substance liberated from Super Earth’s age-old enemy (among others) the Illuminate. So far, the game has only done so much to hint the return of the high-tech foe, with some theories not really panning out. But their appearance may be just around the corner. Johan Pilestedt, the new CCO of Arrowhead, teased the faction earlier in May, and players think the recent Dark Matter disagreement can at last herald their arrival.

Will a black hole rip open in space and invite the Illuminate back into the fray? That’s certainly one theory put out by players, though the origin of said black hole may not come from the enemy faction itself. Considering the recent incident, a black hole manufactured by Super Earth could also open the door for the Illuminate to use. Based on what Pilestedt has said, however, it’s more likely that the faction will appear on its own terms.

“Imagine if there was a predator-like alien species in the Helldivers universe that were exiled from the galaxy that were planning vengeance,” he wrote on X in early May.

Imagine indeed.