Helldivers 2 players are reporting being attacked by some kind of mysterious blue laser, fueling speculation that a new enemy faction could soon make its debut in the game.
Over on the official Helldivers 2 subreddit, several players have provided evidence and personal anecdotes concerning blue beams being visible throughout Helldivers 2's worlds.
Combined with the fact that there is a very noticeable gap at the bottom of the game's Galactic War map, this phenomenon is leading to speculation that The Illuminate, a faction from the first Helldivers, could be making a sneaky debut.
Attacking from stealth (and, indeed, without an official announcement) would suit The Illuminate's profile; they're tricksters, relying on electromagnetic jammers and stealth to complete their objectives.
This also seemingly wouldn't be the first time that Helldivers 2 developer Arrowhead Game Studios has added a new enemy to the game without officially revealing it to players.
Recently, several Helldivers 2 players reported seeing a new type of flying bug enemy (thanks, IGN) on their travels, to which Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt responded by calling the claims "propaganda", suggesting that "bugs can't fly".
While it's technically possible that these blue beams could be a visual bug (and not one of the other kinds of bugs), there's a fair amount of evidence that suggests The Illuminate could soon be joining Helldivers 2's fray.
If you're somehow not familiar with Helldivers 2, it's the sequel to 2015's isometric shooter Helldivers. Unlike the first game, this one's played from a regular third-person over-the-shoulder perspective.
You are a Helldiver of Super Earth, and it's your job to deploy to strategic locations around the galaxy, exterminating bugs and completing a series of objectives as you do so.
Since its release, Helldivers 2 has proven phenomenally popular among players and critics alike, although massive demand during its early stages led to login issues that made it difficult for some players to enter the game.
You can grab Helldivers 2 right now on PC and PlayStation 5. Check out our review to find out if you should enlist in the Super Earth Armed Forces, and make sure to take a look at our ship modules, stratagems, and weapons guides to make the most of the arsenal at your disposal as a Helldiver.
