Helldivers 2 galactic war timeline: Every major event that's happened so far

GamesThird Person ShooterHelldivers 2Helldivers 2 galactic war timeline: Every major event that’s happened so farWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

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(Image credit: Arrowhead Game Studios)

Helldivers 2

What a violent year Helldivers 2 has had. The unexpected hit shooter released way back in February, but the galactic war at the center of its narrative doesn’t feel like it’s been raging for ten whole months. Time flies when you’re having fun exterminating bugs.

To commemorate Helldivers 2’s mostly incredible year, I’ve recorded an abridged history of the Second Galactic War so far. I tried to keep to the biggest events, the best community actions, and chose not to exhaustively list every major order. I was able to log a surprising amount from memory, but this would not have been possible without the tireless work of the Helldivers Fandom wiki, which does actually list every single major order. For a complete accounting of the war so far,go here.

The Second Galactic War begins

(Image credit: Arrowhead Game Studios)

helldivers 2

A two-front war kicks off

Millions of new recruits are rushed through basic training and sent to the frontlines. I’m introduced to the Terminids, a scourge of giant bugs spreading their toxic tendrils across the galaxy, and the Automatons, a dangerous faction of robots with endless resources and a distaste for democracy.

The battle for a creek

Super Earth builds a Terminid Control System

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A campaign begins to contain the spread of Terminids to the far reaches of the galaxy. I’m deployed to clear out bugs from border planets and enable the construction of the “Terminid Control System.”

Super Earth’s hubris backfires

(Image credit: Arrowhead Games)

An image of Automatons doing battle with Helldivers in Helldivers 2.

Helldivers liberate mechs in record time

A major order presents us Helldivers with a unique opportunity: Liberate Tien Kwan and instantly unlock exosuit mechs. We hear Super Earth loud and clear: so clearly that we kick theAutomatons off Tien Kwan in just over 24 hours. High command had anticipated it’d take closer to a week. The EXO-45 Patriot Exosuit is ours, and glorious.

The TCS comes online

Terminid Control System construction is completed, but Super Earth needs us Helldivers to turn it on. A special mission type appears, and divers personally douse dark-yellow Termicide gas across the border planets.

Bugs suddenly fly, Arrowhead denies

Soon after the Termicide is dispersed, reports of an unknown breed of flying bug circulate online. Indisputable video evidence is put forth to Arrowhead boss Johan Pilestedt, who says"bugs can’t fly"and blames the fake news on “bug sympathizers.” Ten days later, Super Earth confirms the existence of Shriekers, and Pilestedt updates his stance:“I have always believed there to be a possibility of flying bugs.”

Operation Swift Disassembly takes aim at Automatons

After weeks of bug drama, our new offensive against the Automatons begins. To mark the occasion, Super Earth approves the distribution of two new weapons: the Quasar Cannon and Heavy Machine Gun. The Quasar Cannon becomes an instant favorite among soldiers as we discover it can bring down Automaton dropships and a new threat: armed gunships.

The second battle of Malevelon Creek

Taking notice of the community’s attachment to Malevelon Creek, an official major order directs us to take back the Creek once more. Rallying cries are raised, propaganda is created, and the Helldivers work fast.We pull it off, and unlock a special cape.

The Automatons are defeated (for a day)

Swift Disassembly’s final phase, Annihilation, calls on us to wipe out the “lifeless, emotionless, hateful socialist” bots once and for all. We defeat the Automatons days later and the bastards literally disappear from the map. Two days later,they somehow return, now armed with toweringFactory Striders.

Terminid spread reaches boiling point

(Image credit: Arrowhead Game Studios)

Helldivers 2 Impaler face

Helldivers say yes to rockets, no to Anti-Tank Mines

As the Automaton front begins anew, Super Earth is giving us a choice over which colony to save: the one that unlocks an Airburst Rocket Launcher or one that unlocks Anti-Tank Mines. Obviously we choose rockets, and it won’t be the last time those mines are shooed away.

A supercolony sprouts on Meridia

The culmination of the disastrous Terminid Control System and the noxious spread of Termicide is the birth of a supercolony on Meridia. Here the Terminid presence is at its nastiest: the planet’s surface is blackened with hardened bug ooze and nests are opened at startling rates.

An Exosuit variant arrives

On the bot front, Super Earth orders us to capture another factory producing exosuits. Saving this one unlocks the EXO-49 Emancipator Exosuit, a variant of the Patriot armed with dual Autocannons. It’s a thing of beauty.

Meridia falls, a black hole appears

Business as usual

(Image credit: Arrowhead Game Studios)

Helldivers 2

The fight continues

So begins an extended period of relative quiet. The war rages on both fronts, but we don’t manage to take or lose much ground against either enemy, and we don’t unlock that many new toys for a while. Wait, is war futile?

Not unlocking the Anti-Tank Mines becomes a meme

Seeking to entertain ourselves, we continue to ignore the Anti-Tank Mines every time a new opportunity appears to unlock them. The mines are denied a third time as we choose to save a colony of children instead. Arrowhead donates $4,000 to a children’s charity as a thank-you.

The MLS-4X Commando arrives

A new expendable rocket launcher arrives to rival the EAT. The Commando is a four-missile pod launcher capable of destroying Automaton fabricators. A worthy instrument of liberty.

Super Earth punishes Helldivers with Anti-Tank Mines

Arrowhead flips the script, this time ordering us to kill a certain number of enemies or else it’ll unlock the Anti-Tank Mines. The tactic works, and the mines are finally unleashed.

New threats appear

The Escalation of Freedom update does not meaningfully affect the war, but it does introduce new threats on both fronts: The Terminid Impaler, Bile Charger, and heavily armored Automaton walkers.

Democracy goes mobile

(Image credit: Arrowhead Game Studios)

helldivers 2

Democracy Space Station construction begins

Without knowing what it is or what it’ll actually do, we deploy to help construct the Democracy Space Station. Months of back-and-forth fighting follow as both enemy factions attempt to thwart its progress.

The Jet Brigade threatens the DSS

The Jet Brigade, a particularly aggressive band of jetpack bot grunts, becomes the nemesis of the DSS, and adds a little flavor to bot deployments. They’re no match for democracy, it turns out.

Liberty Day remembers the fallen

DSS finally comes online

After months of waiting, the Democracy Space Station comes online, adding a new dimension of strategy to the galactic war. We can now exercise our right to vote on where to send the DSS and contribute Req points to activate temporary buffs for that planet, like capture protection or periodic airstrikes. Of course, the first thing it does is start indiscriminately killing friendlies.

The Illuminates return!

(Image credit: Arrowhead Games / Sony)

Two images - one showing the Illuminate dropships beaming down enemy troops to murder my position, another showing a city in flames from the illuminate menace.

The Illuminates come out of nowhere

In a totally unpredictable and unexpected twist of fate, a third faction has entered the war. The Illuminates, long believed to be eradicated during the first galactic war over 100 years ago, are back with an army of Super Citizen zombies, now turned “Voteless.” This is an ongoing threat, but we Helldivers are more than capable of stopping these undemocratic squids.

The Helldivers score some wheels

Super Earth deploys a new tool on the battlefield to take on the Illuminates: a car. It’s called the Fast Recon Vehicle, it can hold up to four divers at once, has a manual transmission, and a mounted machine gun. I like where this is headed.

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The Second Galactic War begins#

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals#

Super Earth’s hubris backfires#

Terminid spread reaches boiling point#

Business as usual#

Democracy goes mobile#

The Illuminates return!#

The Second Galactic War begins

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals

Super Earth’s hubris backfires

Terminid spread reaches boiling point

Business as usual

Democracy goes mobile

The Illuminates return!