A new Helldivers 2 trailer has stirred speculation among players, with many believing its unsettling imagery hints at the game's next major enemy faction, the Illuminate. However, a vocal contingent of Warhammer 40,000 fans has instead interpreted the trailer's eerie tone as a reference to Chaos Gods, the malevolent warp-dwelling deities from Games Workshop's tabletop universe, drawing comparisons that have amused and divided the community.

The reaction comes off the back of Helldivers 2's recent Warhammer 40,000 crossover content, which has left some fans primed to read 40K influences into the developer's output even when discussing unrelated in-game factions like the Illuminate. Comments circulating among fans, including references to being "gave us the warp" via the 40K Warbond, reflect a playful blending of the two franchises' fandoms rather than any official confirmation from developer Arrowhead Game Studios of a Chaos-themed crossover or story direction.