Helldivers 2 ditches the singleplayer approach of its predecessor to focus on multiplayer elements, but that doesn’t mean it’s devoid of story beats. In fact, since the co-op shooter is set in the same universe, just skipped 100 years forward, players have dreamt up countless theories about its lore.
The sequel is centered around a galactic war against the relentless alien threats of the Terminids and Automatons, and soon, the Illuminate. But what if the true enemy isn’t who we think it is? A recent theory proposes that Super Earth’s government, The Federation, might be the real villains.
The Federation Drove Out The Bugs And Created The Bots
Posted to the r/helldivers subreddit, the fan theory suggests that Super Earth, the human homeworld in Helldivers 2, wasn’t always human-controlled. It was once inhabited by the Terminids. The Federation, seeking resources and a strategic location, launched a campaign to “liberate” Super Earth to imperialize the planet and drive out the Terminids.
To aid in this conquest, The Federation developed the Automatons, sophisticated robotic soldiers that were initially programmed to subdue the Terminids. After the bugs were driven out, The Federation sent the Automatons to other regions of the galaxy to extract resources.
However, the theory proposes that these machines proved to be a little too effective, gaining sentience and rebelling against their Federation masters. The Federation, fearing their own creation, wiped out the Automatons on Super Earth. Now seeking vengeance for their brethren on Super Earth, the bots scattered across the galaxy are making their way back to Super Earth.
Helldivers 2 Players Are Misled Pawns In A Cruel Game
This is where the Helldivers come in, sent away on “liberation” missions across the galaxy and battling both the Terminids who want Super Earth back and the rogue Automatons. According to the theory, the soldiers are merely pawns in The Federation’s game, which doesn’t come as much of a surprise, but several in-game elements support the notion.
The rapid redeployment after a Helldiver’s death is a clear indication of The Federation’s disregard for their lives, constantly having replacements in reserve. The underwhelming performance of weapons and equipment compared to their descriptions suggests a facade of choice, with The Federation valuing resources over effectiveness.
Finally, the theory argues that the lack of Federation soldiers on the frontlines reveals their true priorities. The Helldivers are seen as expendable peons, being the only ones to suffer casualties, while The Federation remains safe.
Even the “tips” they provide before battle, from “Friendly Fire Isn’t, Don’t Die!” to seemingly helpful warnings, can be seen as manipulative tactics meant to keep the soldiers motivated while ignoring their actual well-beings.
The theory is quite plausible, but falls apart at one juncture: the inception of the Automatons. Helldivers 2‘s lore tells us that the bots were programmed by the cyborg alien race from the first game, so the notion of The Federation building them is a bit misguided.
Nevertheless, it’s proof that Helldivers 2 offers up not just intense action, but also an intelligent meta commentary of blindly loyal soldiers fighting a war that shouldn’t have started in the first place.
