Helldivers 2: Heart of Democracy Update Brings Battle to Super Earth, Player Count Spikes

Arrowhead Game Studios has launched Helldivers 2’s next big update, called the Heart of Democracy. Despite player efforts, the ongoing narrative of Helldivers 2 have led to Super Earth being invaded by one of the three alien races waging war against humanity — the Illuminati, a new enemy type that was added to the game months ago.

Arrowhead Game Studios has launched Helldivers 2’s latest major update, Heart of Democracy. Despite the community’s best efforts, the game’s ongoing narrative has taken a turn for the worse — Super Earth is now being invaded by the Illuminate, one of the three alien factions waging war against humanity. This mysterious enemy type was introduced months ago, but they’re back with new tricks.

Now, the war has reached Helldivers’ home turf. Super Earth is under attack, and players will find themselves fighting across urban battlefields as terrified civilians run through the streets while massive, squid-like Illuminates tower over buildings.

Helldivers are officially on the defensive. Super Earth missions now task players with activating Planetary Defense Cannons while also protecting civilians caught in the crossfire. And yes, friendly fire on civilians comes with penalties.

What’s New in Helldivers 2: Heart of Democracy?

One of the most requested community features has finally arrived — weapon customization. Players can now unlock attachments by leveling up weapons through continued use. The more you use a weapon, the more attachments you unlock, each providing different performance boosts.

The Illuminate have evolved, too. New enemies now populate the battlefield, including:

• Stingrays – Jet fighters that perform devastating strafing runs

• Crescent Overseer – A new ground unit capable of unleashing devastating barrages

With Heart of Democracy officially live, the battle for Super Earth has begun — and players are answering the call. On May 20, Helldivers 2 surged past 100,000 concurrent players on Steam, its biggest spike since the Omens of Tyranny update in December. While not quite reaching the game’s explosive launch numbers, it’s a major comeback compared to the April peak of 49,000 players.

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