Helldivers 2 Just Got Its Third Enemy Faction In A Major Free Surprise Update

Helldivers 2 fans have been waiting patiently (and not so patiently) for the alien horde shooter to add a new enemy faction, and Arrowhead Studios is finally doing just that. The Illuminate are now live in the game following a surprise free update called Omens of Tyranny, and it adds a ton more than just the series’ infamous blue aquatic aliens.

Players of the original Helldivers destroyed the Illuminates’ civilization a hundred years ago, but it appears now they’re back and ready to wage war through mind control. By corrupting other Helldivers, they’ve spawned a new threat called The Voteless, and it looks like a mini-civil war is set to play out on urban battlefields as fans have long been hoping for.

Here’s the trailer for the new update:

Colony streets overrun by Voteless and Illuminate mean that players will be in close-quarters combat in back alleys and forked roads that leave them no way to escape if things go bad. One new tool in the arsenal will be the Fast Recon Vehicle or “FRV” that lets up to four players ride together, Grand Theft Auto-style, through war-torn cities. It sounds like there will be other stratagems and arsenal upgrades dropping in the new update as well.

Omens of Tyranny is bringing a big patch too. The biggest improvement? You can now finally rejoin your last match after a crash, something that’s messed up many a Helldivers 2 gaming session for me personally. Other highlights include Automaton Reinforced Scout Striders spawning less frequently, a number of buffs to various weapons, and Helldiver and sentry gun armor becoming more flame-retardant so it takes longer to ignite. The changes all seem in line with the studio’s recent campaign to calibrate the game with more of an eye toward fun than to perfect balance.

Arrowhead Studios also announced a new Helldivers 2-themed DualSense controller. It’s $75 and goes up for sale starting December 20.