Helldivers 2 Update: Illuminate Invasion Hits Super Earth Streets

The much-anticipated Heart of Democracy major update for *Helldivers 2* is now live on PC and PlayStation 5, introducing Super Earth maps where players can engage in intense battles. As previously leaked, this update brings the Illuminate invasion to our home planet, allowing players to select missions in Mega Cities and fight alongside SEAF soldiers to defend Super Earth.

The new city biomes feature operations focused on liberating the cities, which developer Arrowhead states have a "significant impact on planetary campaigns." These operations are integral to the ongoing Galactic War, a community-driven meta narrative orchestrated by Arrowhead behind the scenes.

The Illuminate have reached the Heart of Democracy.

Our Mega Cities are under siege. Liberty now hangs in the balance. The Ministry of Defence has authorised arsenal upgrades and placed SEAF soldiers on active duty. Today, we fight for the future of Super Earth! pic.twitter.com/GxkrAQCmKD

— HELLDIVERS™ 2 (@helldivers2) May 20, 2025

According to the PlayStation Blog, the Helldivers' new objective is to repel the Illuminate invasion by gaining ground and fighting to control areas where the fleet is landing. The update introduces a challenging intergalactic tug-of-war dynamic, where players will experience rapid gains and losses of control.

Players can now activate Planetary Defense Cannons to take down the Illuminate fleet, as demonstrated in the trailer. SEAF troops will assist in defending the cities, operating independently or following Helldivers to provide temporary backup as players move toward their objectives. However, players must remain cautious of civilians still present in the streets, as *Helldivers 2* emphasizes managing friendly fire as much as eliminating alien threats.

The Heart of Democracy update is a testament to Arrowhead's long-term commitment to sustaining *Helldivers 2* following its record-breaking launch last year. Addressing player concerns about the studio potentially shifting focus to a new project, "Game 6," Arrowhead CEO Shams Jorjani reassured the community, stating, "Nah. It's ALL Helldivers 2 for now. A very, very small team will spin up something later this year and go at it slowly. Helldivers is our main focus and will be for a long time."

When asked about the duration of content updates for *Helldivers 2*, Jorjani responded, "As long as you folks keep playing and buying Super Credits we can keep it going," referring to the game's virtual currency used to purchase Premium Warbonds. He acknowledged past challenges but highlighted the positive turnaround and the bright future ahead, thanks to continued player support.