Helldivers 2 Director Supports Arrowhead’s Controversial No-Cowboy Hat Policy: “Hats Don’t Belong on Helmets”

As you’ve probably noticed from our chatter this week, Helldivers 2 introduced a new cowboy-themed Warbond called Borderline Justice. Interestingly, you won’t find a cowboy hat in this set because, according to Arrowhead, it doesn’t really fit the Helldiver uniform guidelines.

This decision has sparked a bit of debate among players. Many have taken it into their own hands, heading to the modding scene to find a way to pair the new armor with a classic ten-gallon hat. Johan Pilestedt, the Helldivers 2 director who is currently on a break, shared his thoughts on the topic through a Twitter thread while attending panels at GDC.

He asked players for their opinions on the new Borderline Justice gear and was quickly met with questions about the absence of a cowboy hat and if there’s any chance one might be added in the future. Pilestedt responded to these inquiries by saying, “I haven’t been part of the design discussions, but I feel it doesn’t align with what Helldivers stand for, and I agree with that.”

He added that he would bring it up with the team during his next visit to the office. When another player pressed him further, he acknowledged the idea would be “awesome,” but he felt it would clash with the Helldivers’ theme since “people don’t wear hats on helmets.”

This reasoning has exasperated some players, especially considering that the PH-9 Predators armor from last year’s Viper Commandos Warbond included a beret worn over a helmet, seemingly bending the uniform rules. It raises the question: What’s considered a military-appropriate hat? And do cowboys fit into this narrative?

Despite the debate over headgear, Pilestedt hinted at an exciting possibility for the future. He suggested a “perk that allows people to take sidearms as primary AND wield them akimbo,” though he noted that creating the animations would require significant effort. However, it’s not off the table for future updates.

What about you? Do you ever sport a hat over your helmet in real life? What kind of helmet are we talking about? Share your thoughts with us below!