Highlights

  • Helldivers 2 fans may want to mark their calendars for October 26, as it will be Liberty Day, an in-universe celebration and a real-world tribute to Starship Troopers.
  • Arrowhead Game Studios has a tradition of releasing free updates on October 26 to keeps players engaged, with the updates having included new stratagems, enemies, and more.
  • Helldivers 2 will likely do something special for Liberty Day as well, though whether it comes in the form of cosmetics, playable content, or another piece of celebratory materials remains to be seen.

In October, fans of the highly acclaimed third-person shooter Helldivers 2 by Arrowhead Game Studios should take note of the 26th, since it's primed to be a big day for the community. For those unfamiliar, Helldivers 2 is an unapologetically political, yet humorous, sequel to the 2015 Helldivers game. Though a shooter at its core, the game heavily leans into the theme of fascism as players fight a never-ending war against factions that threaten the citizens of Super Earth.

Helldivers 2 burst onto the scene, dominating the charts and surpassing Palworld as the top-selling game on Steam in its first week. Though this excitement could naturally subside over time, Helldivers has maintained a dedicated fanbase since the first installment. As such, fans should mark their calendars, as October 26th promises to be an important day for the franchise.

palworld helldivers 2 two sides of the same coin
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Palworld and Helldivers 2 Are Two Sides of the Same Coin

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The Helldivers Games Have Always Honored October 26

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The Importance of This Day For Citizens of Super Earth

Despite the richness of Helldivers 2's lore, it can be overwhelming to absorb at once. However, October 26th holds a special significance for fans as it marks the release of the science-fiction novel, Starship Troopers, a key inspiration for the game's world. Heavily influenced by both the novel and its 1997 film adaptation, the citizens of Super Earth celebrate Liberty Day as a tribute to its source material.

Beyond its connection to Starship Troopers, Arrowhead Game Studios has emphasized that Liberty Day is a day for citizens to "remember and celebrate what it means to be free." For the Helldivers community, this offers the perfect opportunity to commemorate the occasion with iconic voice lines from the game, like "That's one more victory for the right side of history" or "How'd you like that taste of freedom?"

Liberty Day is a day for citizens to 'remember and celebrate what it means to be free.'

Helldivers 2 Should Receive Free DLC in October

Aligned with the game's patriotic theme, since 2018 the developers have established a tradition of releasing a free content update on October 26th. These festivities have included, but aren't limited to:

  • New stratagems
  • New difficulties
  • Tougher enemies
  • Steam free weekend
  • Social media competitions
  • Free wallpapers

Unfortunately, though Arrowhead Games Studios has a record of putting out new Helldivers content on this date, it's never been a guarantee. Typically, the studio will at the very least publish a blog post which can consist of contests, giveaways, live streams, and "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) threads. Past DLCs have never been announced in advance, so it doesn't seem likely that the Helldivers 2 community will know any details before the prospective date.

However, given the significant success of Helldivers 2 at launch this year, releasing a free update in October could be a strategic marketing move. Adding new maps, weapons, or game modes could be a great way for Arrowhead to solidify its commitment to the game's longevity. At the least, fans of the game should expect fireworks exploding across the game's title screen and a scrolling ticker that displays the words "Humanity everywhere rejoices as we celebrate Liberty Day!"