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Creepy Helldivers 2 trailer might tease a fight with the Illuminate, but Warhammer fans are convinced it’s Chaos Gods: “They done gave us the warp with our 40K Warbond”
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.
In short
- New Helldivers 2 trailer sparks fan speculation about its meaning.
- Some think it teases the Illuminate faction's return.
- Warhammer 40K fans jokingly claim it references Chaos Gods instead.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The Illuminate faction is well-established in Helldivers 2's lore and has been long anticipated by the community as the next major enemy. Crossover content typically remains cosmetic rather than core to narrative development, so the developer would logically continue building out its original universe and factions. The trailer's creepy aesthetic naturally fits an unknown alien species without requiring external franchise references.
The case against
The Warhammer 40K crossover achieved considerable success with the community, and the trailer's imagery and tone closely resemble the Chaos Gods from Games Workshop's universe. The developer's willingness to stage such a collaboration suggests genuine interest in deeper integration, and community enthusiasm indicates both creative and commercial appetite for such content. The specific aesthetic choices appear more aligned with Chaos iconography than with Helldivers' established alien factions.
Explained simply
Helldivers 2 is a co-operative science-fiction game in which players fight enemies threatening Super Earth. The Illuminate are one of its alien factions, and players have speculated about their return as the game’s story and content develop.
Warhammer 40,000 is a separate science-fiction fantasy setting, known for the Chaos Gods: powerful beings associated with the Warp, a dangerous dimension. A recent crossover added Warhammer-themed items to Helldivers 2, prompting some fans to connect the two worlds when interpreting new imagery.
The discussion shows how crossover content can shape what players expect from a game. Similarities noticed by fans do not, by themselves, confirm an official link between the franchises.