Helldivers 2 Receives a Mysterious Steam Update: Is “gameplay_illuminates” a Genuine Reveal or Arrowhead’s Ultimate Troll?

We’ve been speculating for ages about Helldivers 2 possibly introducing a third faction, specifically the Illuminate from the first game. It’s something that’s been on and off our radar for years. Now, there’s a fresh twist that might signal this addition, thanks to a recent Steam depot update intriguingly titled “gameplay_illuminates.”

I’m not pulling your leg here. Arrowhead Studios has chosen a name that’s as blatantly straightforward as calling a concept “Democracy Space Station.” This update, spotted earlier today, has naturally sparked talks about whether this iconic faction we’ve been anticipating since the Galactic War is finally making a comeback.

A sharp-eyed Helldivers 2 fan, known as Dangerous-Return5937, noticed this update on SteamDB, causing quite the stir. The update is indeed named “gameplay_illuminates,” but beyond that, we’re left guessing its true significance. Is it implicitly hinting at the resurgence of the Illuminates? Or is it a teaser for something else entirely? The details remain elusive.

Because this information is publicly accessible online, it’s more of an intentional breadcrumb than a leak, depending on how you look at it. Naturally, the gaming community is divided. Some are excitedly buying into the hope, others are cautiously reserving judgment, and a few are downright puzzled.

Critics have pointed out the oddity: if this really pertains to the Illuminate, why would Arrowhead go with such an overt name? In the past, they’ve used codenames like “studio_playtest” and “gameplay_worlds.” They’ve also chosen enigmatic titles like “mimosa,” “orion,” and “wushu,” which are far less likely to fan speculative flames unnecessarily.

One insightful moderator on the Helldivers 2 subreddit remarked, “Arrowhead is kind of inviting speculation by labeling the update that way.” Some think this might be the developers’ clever way of having a bit of fun with the community. One user humorously speculated, “Imagine if it’s just a lighting update and everyone gets fooled.”

In the meantime, it’s probably best not to get too carried away. Whether or not this hints at the Illuminates returning soon is still anyone’s guess. But who knows? Let us know your thoughts on this latest little mystery below!