As if Helldivers 2’s Monsters Weren’t Terrifying Enough, It Turns Out They Can Also Smell You

Don't back down, double down. The Helldivers 2 propaganda machine is spinning up once again after the horrible flying Terminid bugs debuted in the game, something its creative director dismissed as "propaganda from bug sympathizers" when players first reported it.

While continues to dominate the video game industry, one star is eager for a crossover with the game his film inspired. It doesn't take a lot to recognize that Arrowhead Studios' game and Paul Verhoeven's cult-classic sci-fi have a great deal in the company especially given that both act as satirical comments on the modern military-industrial complex and the influence of propaganda on society. Despite these heavy themes, there's still a great amount of fun to be had in either given that they also spotlight soldiers firing big weapons at giant alien bugs.

Dedicated spreaders of Managed Democracy have started to report sightings of new flying Terminid bugs – possibly called “Shriekers” – but these reports have sparked a rapid pushback from Arrowhead’s CEO Johan Pilestedt, who has branded those players as “bug sympathizers”.

In the violent future of Helldivers 2, the United Kingdom no longer exists on Super Earth, it would seem. The co-op shooter from Arrowhead Game Studios has become a smash hit thanks to its gameplay and sci-fi story that blends classic tropes and dark, cynical humor. Lots of gamers love Helldivers 2 and are always eager to learn more about its world and backstory.

Dedicated spreaders of Managed Democracy have started to report sightings of new flying Terminid bugs – possibly called “Shriekers” – but these reports have sparked a rapid pushback from Arrowhead’s CEO Johan Pilestedt, who has branded those players as “bug sympathizers”.

Several players have insisted that they've encountered a new type of flying Terminid but in keeping with the game's satirical tone,Arrowhead Studios' CEO Johan Pilestedt believes it's all nonsense. In the weeks after the game's launch, the community has been hard and working trying to figure out exactly what could be causing the Terminids to spread so rapidly among the stars. Some are speculating that Super Earth itself could be creating the «aliens» but the game's director is trying to throw everyone off the scent.

presents players with an abundance of different tools to eliminate the deadly armies of the Terminids and Automatons and Arrowhead Studios is giving fans some insight into how those Stratagems are created. One of the core components of the popular co-op shooter is the ability to call down equipment and support from the skies, most of which take the form of explosive air strikes or precision missile launches. They're undoubtedly one of the most fun aspects of and director Johan Pilestedt wants everyone to know how the team creates them.

makes a point of throwing droves of enemies at players but those who do their best to avoid combat may be shocked to learn that enemies have a few extra tools in their arsenals to detect sneaky players. During some of the game's larger open-world missions, Helldivers have the option to engage with roving bands of foes or, if they're careful, sneak past without raising the alarm. That's easier said than done, especially when the Terminids can use more than one of their sense to track their prey.

Heads up, Helldivers – literally. Seemingly out of nowhere, there've been sightings of flying terminids out in the wild, which the game's director – and the Ministry of Truth – insist are "filthy lies" and "propaganda from bug sympathizers." So, uh, we can probably expect to start seeing a lot more of them soon. 

The game director for Helldivers 2 has confirmed a horrifying detail about Terminids, revealing that the bug-like aliens are able to smell players. As one of two enemy factions in Helldivers 2, Terminids can be difficult to sneak by, and there's now confirmation as to why that is.

Helldivers 2 has exploded onto the gaming scene in a massive way. This co-operative third-person shooter packed with danger, action, humor, and surprises has already become one of this year’s most talked-about games. What some people may be less familiar with though is its progenitor. The original Helldivers, which debuted in 2015 (and is still active) is a co-op, multiplayer overhead twin-stick shooter packed with action, intensity, and plenty of challenging situations that a player might find themselves in.

Co-op sci-fi shooter Helldivers 2 is known more for its dramatic air strikes and over-the-top weapons than stealth elements. However, when building Helldivers 2's alien hordes, developer Arrowhead Game Studios included plenty of detection mechanics, including the ability for bugs to «smell» sneaky Helldivers.