Helldivers 2 Director Supports Arrowhead’s Unconventional No Cowboy Hat Policy: “Helmets Aren’t for Hats”

By now, you’ve probably heard us mention this a few times this week, but Helldivers 2 just introduced a cowboy-themed Warbond called Borderline Justice. Interestingly, the set doesn’t include a cowboy hat. According to Arrowhead, such headgear doesn’t match the Helldiver dress code.

This decision hasn’t sat well with a segment of players. Some have even decided to take matters into their own hands by downloading mods that pair the new armor with a ten-gallon hat. Johan Pilestedt, the Helldivers 2 director currently taking a break, shared his thoughts on the matter via a Twitter thread while attending GDC and participating in panels.

Once players were asked for feedback on the new Borderline Justice gear, it wasn’t long before queries about the cowboy hat started flowing in. Many were curious if the hat would eventually make its way into the game. Pilestedt responded to one query with, “I don’t know—I haven’t been part of the design discussions. But, frankly, I think it breaks the essence of what the Helldivers are. I agree with that sentiment,” adding, “I’ll bring it up with the team next time I’m at the office.” Another fan got a slightly different take from Pilestedt who acknowledged, “A hat would be great, but I fear it might disrupt the Helldivers’ fantasy… and helmets don’t really pair with hats.”

Some players are puzzled by this reasoning, pointing out that last year’s PH-9 Predators armor in the Viper Commandos Warbond did feature a beret over a helmet. It raises an interesting question about what qualifies as appropriate military headgear. Are cowboy hats just as valid as cavalry ones in the context of battle?

Looking to the future, Pilestedt did tease something intriguing in his tweet: the possibility of a perk that allows players to use sidearms as primary weapons and dual-wield them. He mentioned, “It requires a bit of work on the animations, but maybe it’s something we’ll see down the line.”

Do you have opinions about wearing hats over helmets in reality? What type of helmet are you envisioning? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!