An invasion of Tremendous Earth is underway in Helldivers 2’s newest replace, bringing the once-distant frontlines of battle near dwelling. Amid the chaos of the invasion, Helldivers have been knowledgeable that the Illuminate have razed the neighboring planet of Mars, and gamers are already anticipating some payback over it.
In-universe news reports detailed the specifics, declaring that Mars has been razed by the Illuminate. The Helldiver Coaching Websites on Mars have been a part of the destruction, and the ability operators who have been operating the coaching have perished in protection of the planet.
Opening the Galaxy Map in Helldivers 2 proper now exhibits a destroyed, however nonetheless current, mass of rock.
#Helldivers2 | #Helldivers2GalacticWar
⚠️⚠️⚠️ MARS HAS BEEN DESTROYED ⚠️⚠️⚠️ pic.twitter.com/sAzkM08qGz
— Helldivers NOW (@Helldivers_NOW) May 20, 2025
Mars was, till a recent update, the coaching facility for Helldivers getting ready to participate within the galactic unfold of democracy. The sudden change of instructional zones already set off alarm bells every week or so in the past, however now, the drive was clear: as a part of the invasion, the Illuminate have taken one thing all Helldivers 2 gamers had a sentimental stake in.
The official Helldivers 2 account posted some promotional art to X/Twitter, urging gamers to “Avenge Mars.”
Mars has been razed by the Illuminate. All Helldiver Coaching Websites throughout the planet, the place rigorous, thorough, and protected coaching of the Galaxy’s Elite has lengthy occured, have been destroyed. The knowledgeable and seasoned facility PA operators who facilitated the coaching died… pic.twitter.com/16yEhLK0MM
— HELLDIVERS™ 2 (@helldivers2) May 20, 2025
The try to fire up the hearts and feelings of Helldivers 2 gamers appears to have labored, too. Already, Helldivers gamers are leaning into the bit; one (*2*), referencing Rico’s willpower to squash the bugs after his hometown is destroyed, and another shares the closed fist meme that is develop into ubiquitous in report time. Helldivers 2 gamers will at all times lean into the common storytelling.
Nonetheless, alongside all of the kayfabe Helldivers posts, some cannot resist having some enjoyable with it. “Hey, the one people who find themselves allowed to kill Helldivers on Mars are Tremendous Earth Drill Instructors!” wrote one user. And references to DOOM and varied different media are fairly strong, too.
The invasion of Tremendous Earth by Illuminate forces is nicely underway in Helldivers 2’s Coronary heart of Democracy replace, which went reside at this time. Players can presently drop onto the planet to defend it towards the extraterrestrial squids, and even with some new SEAF back-up, the state of affairs appears chaotic. We’ll see how this pans out over the following few Main Orders, however I am not ruling out just a few extra gut-punches from Joel and developer Arrowhead Recreation Studios.
Eric is a contract author for IGN.