After Helldivers 2 boss teased death and destruction in upcoming update, new Illuminate structures ominously appear in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment in Super Earth media

Helldivers 2 screenshot of two soldiers cheering in the desert — (Image credit: Arrowhead Game Studios / PlayStation)

The next chapter of Helldivers 2 is going to involve, among other things, a lot of dying. Teases from Arrowhead Game Studios – sorry, Strohmann News – are showing signs of Squ'ith structures, indicating another hellish confrontation with the ancient species.

In the latest update from the Ministry of Truth, it's revealed the Star of Peace, a cosmic weapon of mass destruction, is nearing completion. "This historic upgrade will convert the Democracy Space Station (DSS) into a macro-scale laser, capable of generating a high-yield beam optimized for mass Freedom dispensation," states the report.

There's just one problem – it burns through standard metals used to spread liberty. Oh my. The Automatons hold the solution, though, as the robots have managed to forge superalloy to withstand worlds full of lava.

MAJOR ORDER: The Star of Peace continues its march toward readiness, with its primary optical array now under construction.This historic upgrade will convert the Democracy Space Station (DSS) into a macro-scale laser, capable of generating a high-yield beam optimized for mass… pic.twitter.com/uwgxmebhnlJanuary 8, 2026

"Helldivers: hold the Magma Planets. Secure the mining infrastructure, and dismantle the trespassing Automaton offensive, to enable the harvesting of internal components," the news piece continues. "Their repurposed heat-resistance will ensure Liberty's light can safely shine on all enemies of Freedom."

Amid the footage used, around 23 seconds in, is one extremely quick glance at what definitely looks like an old Squ'ith stronghold of some sort, enough to send a chill down the spine of anyone who remembers facing them already. The squid-like creatures, dubbed Illuminate by mankind, have been around for many thousands of years more than humans, and their advancement is a real test for Super Earth. As one loyal Helldiver reacts on Reddit, "At this point I have no fucking idea what the next major update is."

New Squid structures 23 seconds into Star of peace news reel for a frame. from r/Helldivers

Arrowhead CEO Shams Jorjani previously suggested "a lot of Helldivers will die" in the upcoming maelstrom. Luckily, we're all stubborn and willing to throw bodies at any problem until it goes away, but still, this could be a real hard time for the divers. Suit up.

Helldivers 2 CCO would rather add "sequel-level features," like 8-player missions and bigger open-world maps, than outright make Helldivers 3.