Helldivers 2 Director Defends Controversial Stance Against Cowboy Hats on Helmets

As you might have heard (we’ve definitely touched on it a few times this week), Helldivers 2 recently introduced a cowboy-themed Warbond called Borderline Justice. Interestingly, it lacks the quintessential cowboy hat, as Arrowhead believes it doesn’t quite fit within the Helldivers uniform standards.

This decision didn’t sit well with many players. Some avid fans even left the official gear saloon to snag a mod that lets them pair the new armor with a ten-gallon hat. Helldivers 2 director and chief creative officer, Johan Pilestedt, who’s on a break but still active on social media, addressed the hat situation in a series of tweets during his time at GDC.

In response to players’ feedback on the Borderline Justice gear, Pilestedt faced several inquiries about the missing cowboy hat and if such an accessory would ever appear in the game. He commented, “I don’t know – haven’t heard the design convo. But I think it crossed the line of what the Helldivers are. Which I agree with,” adding, “I will ask the team next time I pop by the office.” Another tweet directed to a different fan read, “I agree that it would be awesome, but I think it would break the fantasy of Helldivers…people don’t wear hats on helmets.”

Interestingly, some players were quick to point out that last year’s PH-9 Predators armor included a beret over a helmet, which bypassed the rigid uniform regulations. This raises the question: does a cowboy hat qualify as military gear? And isn’t a cavalry hat a part of warfare attire in history?

On a more exciting note, Pilestedt hinted at a potentially thrilling future feature during his Twitter conversation. “A perk that allows people to take sidearms as primary AND wield them akimbo…”, he teased, acknowledging that it’s quite an undertaking animation-wise, but maybe it’s something we might see down the line.

So, do you ever strut around with a hat perched on your helmet in real life? Which helmet would that be? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!