Yee-naw: Helldivers 2 Director Supports Arrowhead’s Controversial Anti-Cowboy Hat Policy, Asserting “Hats Don’t Belong on Helmets”

As you might have noticed, especially if you’ve been following our updates closely, Helldivers 2 recently rolled out a new cowboy-themed Warbond called Borderline Justice. Interestingly, it lacks the iconic cowboy hat. Arrowhead, the game’s developer, believes that such a hat doesn’t really fit within the Helldiver uniform guidelines.

Many players aren’t exactly thrilled with this decision. Some have even taken matters into their own hands, securing mods that let them pair the new armor with a ten-gallon hat. Johan Pilestedt, Helldivers 2 director and chief creative officer—currently on leave—shared his thoughts on the matter in a Twitter thread during the GDC conference.

In one of his tweets, Pilestedt asked players for feedback on the Borderline Justice gear. Predictably, questions about the absence of a cowboy hat came up swiftly. He responded to a few inquiries by saying, “I don’t know—I haven’t heard the design conversation. But I think it crossed the line of what the Helldivers are, which I agree with. I’ll ask the team next time I stop by the office.”

Another player got a different take from Pilestedt: “I agree it would be awesome, but I think it would break the Helldivers’ vibe. People don’t wear hats on helmets.”

His comments sparked a bit of frustration among some players, who pointed out that last year’s Viper Commandos Warbond included a beret atop a helmet. This begs the question—is a cowboy hat really that different from a military-style beret?

On a more exciting note, Pilestedt hinted at an interesting potential feature in his thread. He suggested the possibility of a perk allowing players to use sidearms as their primary weapons and even wield them akimbo. “Unfortunately, it’s a bit too much work to create the animations for now, but maybe in the future?” he teased.

So, do you ever wear a hat on top of a helmet in your daily adventures? If so, which helmet are you talking about? We’re curious to hear your thoughts—share them below!