Over two days after Helldivers 2 developer Arrowhead Game Studios shadow dropped the long-awaited Illuminate faction throughout The Game Awards, 1000’s of Super Earth’s best troopers have managed to repel the squid-like aliens’ invasion of Calypso. As a consequence, the related Major Order has been accomplished, rewarding everybody within the Super Earth fleet with 50 Warbond Medals and a stratagem for the Fast Recon Vehicle gamers had been discovering all through their missions on Calypso that is coming quickly.
The Major Order to push again the Illuminate’s offensive was unquestionably one of the crucial intense (if not the most intense) campaigns of the Galactic War up to now, with the Helldivers preventing the invaders tooth and nail across the clock for 48+ hours. They accomplished it a mere 10 minutes earlier than the Level 96 invasion (presumably, 100 is the max problem on this newly added scale) was slated to succeed — a victory by the pores and skin of Lady Liberty’s tooth, if I’ve ever seen one.
An enormous a part of that success is because of Helldivers 2 skyrocketing on Steam within the wake of the Omens of Tyranny replace, with numerous gamers dropping onto the entrance strains to battle the Illuminate and take a look at out gear from the brand new Urban Legend battle pass-like Premium Warbond. Notably, Arrowhead chief inventive officer Johan Pilestedt revealed on social media that over a million gamers dove within the 24 hours that adopted the Illuminate’s arrival, and SteamDB information exhibits that roughly 80,000-130,000 Super Earth area marines had been taking part in concurrently at any given time in the course of the Major Order (the rely peaked at 150,153 on Saturday night). It’s additionally turn out to be a Steam Top Seller as soon as once more, and even briefly surpassed new in style juggernauts like Marvel Rivals and Path of Exile 2.
With the Illuminate’s seizure of Calypso thwarted, the faction itself is now not out there to battle proper now. That’s somewhat disappointing when you ask me, because it’s just about all the things I might ask for and extra from a brand new enemy kind (do not let the Democracy Officer hear I’m unhappy they’re gone). Even although I’ve been mowing down Voteless hordes and Overseer troops virtually continuous to defend the colony planet, I’ve had a lot enjoyable doing in order that I’m wanting to get proper again to it.
Yet regardless of assertions from Super Earth High Command that this was simply “a small cell of Illuminate forces” that survived the First Galactic War from the unique Helldivers — “as quickly as they [remnants] are positioned, they are going to be eradicated” — it is clear that the Illuminate will be again, and are all-but-sure to be again quickly. In reality, I’m stunned a brand new engagement in opposition to the armies of the alien menace did not instantly begin after our triumph.
In case you are questioning, a brand new Major Order hasn’t been handed down but, so for now, the Helldivers must head again to the Terminid or Automaton fronts to proceed spreading Managed Democracy (the bots, specifically, are beginning to get uncomfortably near Super Earth). In the approaching hours, although, I’m positive the Illuminate will start a bigger offensive within the galaxy’s southern sectors.
The Calypso Major Order was simply one of the crucial thrilling ones in Helldivers 2’s historical past, as it has been superior seeing the neighborhood frantically come collectively to work out methods, make loadouts, and share tricks to overcome the Illuminate’s distinctive mix of zombie hordes, burly melee and airborne shock troops, and towering walkers that punish sluggish motion within the open. Participating in its remaining hours was additionally an absolute blast, and contemplating how right down to the wire it got here, my pals and I genuinely felt like we had an influence on the neighborhood’s wider effort once we burned via just a few operations this afternoon.
All in all, it was the right capstone to what has been an exceptional opening 12 months for Arrowhead’s PC and PS5 live-service co-op shooter. I nonetheless want that it had at the least gotten a nomination for Game of the Year — I’m inviting offended feedback with this, however sizzling take: it deserved yet another than Black Myth: Wukong or the Elden Ring DLC — however I’m blissful it took residence Best Multiplayer and Best Ongoing at The Game Awards.
