Helldivers 2 CEO Warns Players: ‘J.O.E.L. Is Coming for You’ Amid Rising Tensions

Lately, it seems something big and mysterious has been brewing in Helldivers 2’s Galactic War. For some time now, players have been stuck battling just the automatons. If you’re not already on edge about what might be coming, you’d better check out the alert Arrowhead’s CEO, Shams Jorjani, shared.

For those not fully caught up, players have noticed a series of strange events that might just signal a major shift—think the Meridia black hole suddenly heading toward Super Earth. Coinciding with a massive offensive from the Illuminate, this could be an anniversary celebration to remember when the game marks one year on February 8.

A recent comment from Jorjani on the game’s Discord, made just this past week, has both convinced and unnerved players that a significant escalation in the war could be imminent. “I just want to give you folks big props for the DSS maneuver you did,” he wrote, commending players on their victories over the jet brigade at Menkent and Lesath. “Brilliant move. J.O.E.L. is out to get you now.” Oh, the suspense!

Unsurprisingly, this has sparked a flurry of excitement and speculation on Reddit. Gamers are gearing up for the next wave, anticipating a shift in opposition activity any day now. Some humorously speculate that Jorjani’s allusion is akin to the Illuminate’s version of Davy Jones unleashing the Kraken.

Amidst this buzz, one player cheekily shouted in an “Independence Day” style, “Cry me a river J.O.E.L! If your jet brigade didn’t want to be blown up, why did they explode so amusingly?”

On the upside, Helldivers 2 players have recently been armed with shovels, in addition to new warbond goodies like the portable hellbomb, meaning they might just have what it takes to counter anything J.O.E.L. throws their way.