Yee-Naw: Helldivers 2 Director Upholds Arrowhead’s Controversial No Cowboy Hat Policy, Asserts “Hats Don’t Belong on Helmets”

As you probably noticed with our excitement this week, Helldivers 2 recently unveiled the cowboy-themed Warbond called Borderline Justice. However, it comes with a twist—there’s no cowboy hat in the mix because Arrowhead believes such headgear doesn’t align with the Helldiver uniform standards.

Many players beg to differ, and some have left the official gear saloon in search of a mod that lets them pair the new armor with a classic ten-gallon hat. Currently on a break, Helldivers 2 director and chief creative officer Johan Pilestedt shared his perspective on Twitter while attending GDC.

Once the Borderline Justice gear was revealed, eager fans immediately questioned the absence of the cowboy hat, curious if it might appear in the future. Pilestedt responded, “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. I will ask the team next time I pop by the office.” To another curious player, he replied, “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 aren’t buying that explanation, pointing out that last year’s PH-9 Predators armor in the Viper Commandos Warbond featured a beret worn atop a helmet, sneaking past those rigid uniform rules. The debate seems to hinge on what constitutes “military-esque” headwear. After all, can cowboys be soldiers, and does a cavalry hat have a different status?

Despite the hat debate, Pilestedt hinted at something exciting on the horizon during that same Twitter thread: a perk enabling players to dual-wield sidearms as primary weapons. He mentioned, “Unfortunately a bit too much work to make the animations, but maybe sometime in the future?”

So, do you ever find yourself strutting around with a hat perched on a helmet in real life? What helmet are you referencing? Share your thoughts below!