Yee-naw: Helldivers 2 Director Supports Arrowhead’s Stand Against Cowboy Hats, Stating “Helmets Aren’t for Hats”

As you probably know by now (because we can’t stop talking about it), Helldivers 2 just unveiled a new Warbond called Borderline Justice, complete with a cowboy theme. Surprisingly, it doesn’t include a cowboy hat, because the folks at Arrowhead feel that such headgear doesn’t quite mesh with the Helldiver uniform standards.

Not everyone shares this view. In fact, some players have taken matters into their own hands, ditching the official gear saloon in search of mods that let them pair the new armor with a ten-gallon hat. Helldivers 2’s director and chief creative officer, Johan Pilestedt, chimed in on the topic via a Twitter thread while attending GDC and speaking on panels.

Amid discussions with players about the new Borderline Justice gear, Pilestedt soon faced the inevitable question about the missing cowboy hat, along with queries about whether the game might feature one in the future. His response? “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,” he replied, also saying, “I will ask the team next time I pop by the office.” In another response, he noted, “I agree that it would be awesome, but I think it would break the fantasy of Helldivers… people don’t wear hats on helmets.”

Some players responded with frustration, pointing out that the PH-9 Predators armor from last year’s Viper Commandos Warbond featured a beret over a helmet, so why not a cowboy hat? The debate seems to hinge on what qualifies as suitably military headgear. Do cowboys battle it out in conflicts, and does a cavalry hat fall into a different category?

On a more exciting note, Pilestedt hinted at a potential future addition during the discussion. He mentioned the idea of a perk allowing players to wield sidearms as primaries and even use them akimbo. He added, “Unfortunately a bit too much work to make the animations, but maybe sometime in the future?”

So, tell us, are you a fan of hats over helmets in real life? And if so, which helmet are you thinking of? Share your thoughts below!