Something big is coming to Helldivers 2 next week: Squid is back on the menu
Helldivers 2 is receiving a major update on August 12 that will introduce a new threat faction to the game. Arrowhead Game Studios released a cryptic teaser trailer featuring a teddy bear being consumed by a void or tear in space, attacked by a psychic presence before reappearing on a jungle planet. In the reflection of the bear’s eye, players glimpse a tall, rounded biped alien figure reaching toward it.
The teaser strongly suggests the return of the Illuminate faction, colloquially known as the “squids,” as a significant new enemy faction. This would expand Helldivers 2’s threat landscape beyond the existing Bugs and Automatons that currently populate the game. The mysterious messaging—“Face the unknown”—emphasizes the enigmatic nature of this incoming threat.
No other details about the update’s content, features, or gameplay changes have been disclosed. The August 12 release date remains the only confirmed information, with the atmospheric teaser serving as the primary tease for what developers describe as a “big” update. Players will need to await the official announcement or patch notes to learn how the Illuminate’s return will impact the game’s combat mechanics, progression systems, and overall meta.