Helldivers 2 has just rolled out the much-anticipated Heart of Democracy major update, introducing Super Earth maps where players can engage in thrilling combat against the Illuminate invasion. This update, now available on both PC and PlayStation 5, brings the fight to our home planet, allowing players to select missions in the Mega Cities and join forces with SEAF soldiers to push back the invaders.
The new city biomes feature operations crucial to liberating these urban centers, which developer Arrowhead emphasizes have a "significant impact on planetary campaigns." These missions are integral to Helldivers 2's ongoing Galactic War, a community-driven meta narrative meticulously crafted by Arrowhead.
The Illuminate have reached the Heart of Democracy.
Our Mega Cities are under siege. Liberty now hangs in the balance. The Ministry of Defence has authorised arsenal upgrades and placed SEAF soldiers on active duty. Today, we fight for the future of Super Earth! pic.twitter.com/GxkrAQCmKD
— HELLDIVERS™ 2 (@helldivers2) May 20, 2025
According to the PlayStation Blog, the Helldivers are now tasked with repelling the Illuminate invasion by gaining ground and controlling areas where the enemy fleet is landing. This is described as an intense intergalactic tug-of-war, where players will constantly battle to gain and lose control of territories.
Players can now activate Planetary Defense Cannons to take down the Illuminate fleet, as showcased in the update's trailer. Additionally, SEAF troops will assist in defending the cities, either fighting independently or following Helldivers to provide temporary support. However, players must remain cautious of civilians still present in the streets, as Helldivers 2 emphasizes careful management of friendly fire alongside combat against alien forces.
The Heart of Democracy update underscores Arrowhead's long-term commitment to sustaining Helldivers 2 following its record-breaking launch. Addressing concerns about the studio's focus, Arrowhead CEO Shams Jorjani reassured players that Helldivers 2 remains the priority.
"Nah. It's ALL Helldivers 2 for now," Jorjani stated firmly. "A very, very small team will spin up something later this year and go at it slowly. Helldivers is our main focus and will be for a loooong time."
When asked about the duration of content updates for Helldivers 2, Jorjani was optimistic, linking the game's longevity to continued player engagement and support through purchases of Super Credits, the game's virtual currency used to acquire Premium Warbonds.
"As long as you folks keep playing and buying Super Credits we can keep it going," Jorjani explained. "Last summer we were kinda screwing the pooch so it looked like we wouldn't be able to keep the train going for a long time - but we turned the ship around, you support us a lot so it's looking bright."
