Arrowhead Game Studios hasn't officially said if the Illuminate faction is in Helldivers 2 yet. Yet, since the Illuminate, along with the Terminids and Automatons, were in the first Helldivers game, it makes sense they might come back. Many players have only played the sequel, so adding the Illuminate could be a great way to expand the game's story and keep it interesting, with its mix of melee and ranged combat from the original game.
According to IronS1ghts, a reliable leaker on Reddit, another model from the rumored upcoming Illuminate faction in Helldivers 2 has been found in the game's files. Previously, a different Helldivers 2 leak showed players their first glimpse of an Illuminate enemy, but this new leak features a different model. This enemy is holding a "LightSpear" staff, which IronS1ghts says can be used for both melee and ranged combat, "firing a beam of light if needed." Since the Automatons are mainly ranged fighters and the Terminids are mostly melee fighters, this dual-purpose ability for the Illuminate makes a lot of sense.
>>> Read more: What Are The Best Helldivers 2 Loadouts?
Interestingly, this new model is much more detailed than the previous Illuminate leaks. This suggests that the Illuminate faction might be closer to release, promising an exciting addition to Helldivers 2 gameplay. While fighting the Terminids and Automatons is still enjoyable, a new faction would be a welcome change. However, it's important to remember that the Illuminate's inclusion hasn't been officially confirmed yet, so plans could still change.
With Helldivers 2 now moving past the recent PSN controversy, Arrowhead Game Studios can focus on what they do best: creating great new content for gamers. Recent updates for Helldivers 2 have addressed crashes, bugs, and balance issues, so we can look forward to a lot of new content coming soon.