Helldivers 2 may be set 100 years after its predecessor, but it continues the galactic war theme by defending the iron fist of Super Earth against two races, the Terminids and Automatons. However, rumors of a third enemy faction entering the fray have been brewing for a while.
Several datamines and leaks have shown that the alien squid race of the first game, the Illuminate, are about to enter the galactic war in Helldivers 2. But what if we’re only led to believe it’s the squids, with the third faction potentially being another returning race from the previous game?
Growing Dissent Within Helldivers 2‘s Troops Mirrors The Cyborgs’ Rebellion
In the original Helldivers, the Cyborgs were a stark contrast to the Super Earth ideal. These cybernetically augmented humans represented a faction that broke away from the rigid Super Earth government, rejecting its brand of democracy. In the 100 years it’s been since, their whereabouts are unknown in Helldivers 2, but recent developments hint at a potential resurgence.
A growing discontent with Super Earth’s policies has been observed among the Helldivers themselves. Sentiments eerily similar to the Cyborgs’ ideology have been popping up in the player base. Developer Arrowhead could be using this dissatisfaction as a meta reflection of the Cyborgs’ traitorous behavior, and planning their comeback.
Further fueling the speculative fire is the unexpected absence of the Illuminates, who were a major threat in the first game. In-game dialogue in Helldivers 2 suggests they were driven out of the galaxy after facing crushing defeat. This power vacuum could be perfectly plugged by the Cyborgs.
The Automatons Have A Big Role To Play Here
While it can be argued that the Automatons are an evolution of the Cyborgs, since the lore establishes that they were created by the latter after the first galactic war, it’s also worth mentioning that the remaining Cyborg race is apparently imprisoned in the mines underneath Cyberstan, and the Automatons seek to free them.
The frigid, barren Cyberstan was the stronghold of the Cyborgs during the events of Helldivers 1, and after the planet was conquered by Super Earth, they were broken in spirit as the remaining few of them were locked away, so their return in Helldivers 2 wouldn’t be out of the blue at all.
Their advanced technology could introduce a wave of new gameplay changes, and battling the agile, cybernetic troops alongside their Automaton descendants would be a poetic but lethal sight for any Helldiver.
The narrative seeds have already been sown for the Cyborgs’ comeback. The Helldivers themselves are a representation of Super Earth’s ideals. Recruited from various demographics, they are expected to fight and die without question. The whispers of dissent within the ranks tied to the potential return of the Cyborgs would be a hilariously meta way to introduce them.
Whether the Cyborgs participate in the galactic war again is yet to be seen, and for now, it’s more likely that we’ll be fighting the Illuminate next, but the Cyborg rebellion is sure to come back at some point, once the Automatons free them from Cyberstan.
