Helldivers 2's Devoid of Liberty Update Brings NPC Allies, New Enemies, and a Level Cap Doubling
Helldivers 2's Devoid of Liberty 7.0 update went live on 12 August 2026, and it brings along something the game has never had: soldiers who fight beside you, and hug you when the fighting pauses.
SEAF soldiers — NPC allies delivered into battle by dropships — can now appear as a planet modifier, meaning some missions will spawn AI squads who join your four-player team. Each squad is built with a clear role structure: a squad leader, a rifleman, a heavy weapon specialist, and a medic who can stim wounded Helldivers. GameSpot reports these soldiers also react to player emotes, shaking hands, playing rock-paper-scissors, and giving hugs.
Two new Illuminate enemy types arrive in the same update. The Wretch dodges and leaps at players; aiming at its limbs is the recommended counter. The Crusher is a walking giant that regenerates rapidly and must be worn down with consistent fire. The Illuminate are one of Helldivers 2's three main enemy factions, and the new types expand their roster of threats.
The update also doubles the level cap from 150 to 300, adding new ranks and rewards along the way. Balance changes include more responsive stims (the healing items players carry into missions), faster recovery after heavy landings, and buffs to short-magazine weapons and sidearms.
A long-awaited Warhammer 40,000 crossover Warbond — a seasonal pass that unlocks cosmetic and equipment items through play — is available with the update. The Steam patch notes for version 7.0.0 describe the update as Super Earth High Command's latest effort to further players' war campaign, sending them to the Illuminate Void to battle mutant threats. Steam
For a game built on the chaos of four players coordinating under fire, adding AI soldiers who can heal you and then hug you is a notable shift in tone. The Devoid of Liberty update makes Helldivers 2 feel less like a lone squad dropped behind enemy lines and more like one small piece of a larger, populated war — albeit one where the reinforcements are happy to play rock-paper-scissors between firefights.
