Cyborgs Return as Helldivers 2 Rolls out ‘Machinery of Oppression’ on Xbox

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Arrowhead’s co-op shooter expands again: Machinery of Oppression, the latest major update for Helldivers 2, is available today on Xbox Series X|S. The drop reintroduces the Cyborgs as a full enemy faction and shifts the war effort to Cyberstan, a frozen theater dominated by sprawling Factory Cities. Players can expect new mission types inside these facilities, fresh enemy variants and a new vehicle – the Bastion Tank – designed for coordinated squad pushes. The official post frames the campaign as a high-stakes liberation effort with pressure mounting by the hour.

What's Inside Machinery of Oppression

The update builds around a single front: Cyberstan. Factory Cities – vast, heavily defended production hubs – define the landscape and dictate a different tempo of play. A stealth-forward approach is “advisable” for infiltration, but not mandatory, with hazards ranging from hostile Bots and automated defenses to environmental threats like toxic waste.

• New enemy faction – the Cyborgs: Long absent from the front, they resurface on Cyberstan to spearhead the conflict.
• New mission spaces – Factory Cities: Multi-layered, fortified interiors built for large-scale production and defense.
• New vehicle – Bastion Tank: Seats up to four Helldivers; engineered to break lines, with roles for driver, gunner and flanking passengers.

Cyborg Units: How They Fight

Several newly cataloged Cyborg elements change how firefights unfold inside industrial zones. Expect crowd control challenges, armored threats and battlefield control tools that punish static play.

Cyberstan – Frozen Front, Industrial Interior

Cyberstan’s “ice-choked” exterior contrasts with dense, machine-packed interiors. The official briefing highlights layered defenses and production lines feeding the Automaton war effort, creating combat spaces where noise, alarms and crossfire can quickly escalate encounters. Teams that divide roles – infiltration, overwatch, breach – will find clearer paths through contested choke points.

Bastion Tank: Squad Roles Matter

The Bastion is built for coordinated advances: a driver sets pace and angles, a gunner applies sustained pressure, while two passengers pop to cover flanks. Four-seat capacity encourages full-squad utilization – pushing objectives, absorbing fire and collapsing entrenched positions. Its value spikes in Factory City lanes, where armor and tread mobility let squads force openings.

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Lore Snapshot: Why the Cyborgs Are Back

According to the official post, the Cyborgs split from Super Earth more than a century ago and clashed during the First Galactic War before disappearing from sensors. The blog attributes their disappearance to a deception campaign on Cyberstan – allegedly involving the creation of Automatons and a staged invasion – and positions today’s appearance as a full-scale return to the conflict.

“Cyberstan must be fully liberated before our global reinforcement reserves are totally exhausted.”

“When the final Helldiver falls… it’s over.”

Final Takeaway – a Colder War, a Heavier Toolkit

Machinery of Oppression raises the stakes with a returning faction, harsher interiors and a vehicle built for team momentum. If your squad thrives on coordinated breaches and armor-led pushes, Cyberstan’s Factory Cities are the new proving ground – bring the Bastion, mind the alarms and adapt fast.