Helldivers 2 Receives Mysterious “Gameplay_Illuminates” Steam Update: Genuine Preview or Expert Arrowhead Troll?

Helldivers 2 fans have been speculating about the addition of a new faction, reminiscent of the Illuminate from the first game, for quite some time. Recently, hopes were reignited when a Steam depot update intriguingly titled “gameplay_illuminates” came to light.

I assure you, it isn’t a prank. Arrowhead, perhaps drawing from its quirky sense of humor, has dubbed this update as directly as Democracy Space Station, instigating fresh speculation. Many of us anticipated these galactic foes would join the fray when Meridia met its earlier fate, and now here we might be, on the brink of their return.

A keen-eyed user from the Helldivers 2 subreddit, known as Dangerous-Return5937, spotted the update on SteamDB. While the name is intriguing, it’s all we’ve got so far; there’s no further information on whether this indeed signifies the much-awaited arrival of the Illuminate or when they could become part of the game.

Being so openly accessible, this revelation isn’t exactly a leak, which has left players pondering its significance. Enthusiasts are divided; while some buzz with excitement, others prefer a more cautious optimism, and some are downright baffled.

Critics have noted that if the update does pertain to the Illuminate, Arrowhead’s decision to use such an obvious label is perplexing. Previously, they’ve used subtler titles like “studio_playtest” or whimsical names like “mimosa,” which don’t typically fuel the rumor mill.

According to a moderator on the HD2 subreddit, “Arrowhead is kinda asking for it by naming the depot update that way.” Some players speculate it’s just the studio having a bit of fun, hinting at the possibility of it being an update unrelated to what the title suggests. As one witty commenter said, “Can’t wait for it being an update on the lighting in the gameplay and everyone getting bamboozled.”

As of now, it’s wise to keep excitement in check. Even if this update heralds the return of the Illuminate, their formal introduction may not be imminent. Nevertheless, we’d love to hear your thoughts and theories on this intriguing development!