By now, you’re probably aware—since we’ve been buzzing about it all week—that Helldivers 2 recently unveiled a new Warbond called Borderline Justice, themed around cowboys. However, it notably lacks a cowboy hat, as Arrowhead believes such a hat wouldn’t fit the Helldiver uniform guidelines.
Many players disagree with this view. Some have even found alternative ways to add a ten-gallon hat to their armor using mods. Johan Pilestedt, the Helldivers 2 director and chief creative officer, currently on a break, weighed in on this debate via a Twitter thread while attending panels at GDC.
Pilestedt initially asked fans what they thought of the Borderline Justice gear. This quickly led to questions about where the cowboy hat is, or if it might be added later. In response to one query, he said, “I don’t know—I haven’t been part of the design discussion. But I think it’s beyond what Helldivers should be. I agree with that sentiment,” and added, “I’ll bring it up with the team next time I visit the office.” He gave a slightly different answer to another player, expressing, “I do think it would be awesome, but it might compromise the Helldivers’ fantasy. Helmets with hats aren’t really the look.”
This stance left some players frustrated, reminding the developer that last year’s Viper Commandos Warbond featured the PH-9 Predators armor, which included a beret worn over a helmet. So, the argument about military-style headgear might be more flexible than assumed. Are cowboy hats just for cowboys, or do they have a place in battle?
Regardless of the headgear debate, Pilestedt hinted at an exciting potential feature for the future: “[A] perk allowing players to use sidearms as primary weapons and wield them akimbo,” he mentioned. Though it’s currently too labor-intensive to create the animations, he seemed optimistic about its future inclusion.
Ever put a hat on your helmet in everyday life? Which helmet are we talking about? Share your thoughts in the comments!
