The much-anticipated Heart of Democracy major update for Helldivers 2 is now live on PC and PlayStation 5, bringing the Illuminate invasion to Super Earth. As leaked last week, players can now engage in missions within the Mega Cities of our home planet, fighting alongside SEAF soldiers to defend against the alien threat.

The update introduces city biomes where players can participate in operations aimed at liberating these urban centers. Arrowhead, the game's developer, emphasized that these missions have a "significant impact on planetary campaigns," integrating seamlessly into Helldivers 2's ongoing Galactic War—a community-driven meta narrative orchestrated 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 new objective for Helldivers is to repel the Illuminate invasion by gaining control over areas where the enemy fleet is landing. This challenge is described as an intergalactic tug-of-war, with players gaining and losing control rapidly against the incoming forces. Players can activate Planetary Defense Cannons to take down the Illuminate fleet, as demonstrated in the trailer. SEAF troops will also assist in defending the cities, either fighting independently or following Helldivers to provide temporary backup as they move toward their objectives. Players must also be cautious of civilians still roaming the streets, as friendly fire management remains a crucial aspect of the game.

The Heart of Democracy update is a testament to Arrowhead's long-term commitment to Helldivers 2, following its record-breaking launch last year. Amidst player concerns that the studio might shift focus to its next project, "Game 6," Arrowhead CEO Shams Jorjani reassured fans that "It's ALL Helldivers 2 for now," with only a very small team working on the new project at a slow pace. Jorjani emphasized that Helldivers 2 will remain the main focus for a long time, with content updates continuing "as long as you folks keep playing and buying Super Credits," the game's virtual currency used to purchase Premium Warbonds. He acknowledged past challenges but expressed optimism about the game's future, thanks to the strong support from the community.