You might have noticed (we’ve certainly been talking about it a lot this week) that Helldivers 2 rolled out a new cowboy-themed Warbond yesterday, aptly named Borderline Justice. Interestingly enough, it doesn’t include a cowboy hat, as Arrowhead thinks such attire simply doesn’t fit within the Helldiver uniform standards.
This decision hasn’t sat well with some fans. Disappointed, a few have left the official gear gatherings in search of mods that enable them to pair the latest armor with a ten-gallon hat. Johan Pilestedt, who is currently on a sabbatical from his role as Helldivers 2 director and chief creative officer, shared his perspective on the matter through a Twitter thread while attending GDC events.
After reaching out for players’ opinions on the new Borderline Justice gear, Pilestedt was inundated with queries about the missing cowboy hat and if there are plans to introduce it later. He responded, saying, “I’m not sure – haven’t been in the design loop. But I feel it pushes the boundaries of what Helldivers represent, which I agree with.” He added, “I’ll check with the team when I’m next in the office.” Another player received this nuanced response from him: “I agree it would be cool, but I think it detracts from the Helldivers’ universe… folks don’t wear hats on helmets.”
This reasoning hasn’t convinced everyone. Some players draw attention to the precedent set by last year’s Viper Commandos Warbond, where the PH-9 Predators armor featured a beret worn over a helmet, seemingly bending those uniform rules. It raises questions about what’s considered acceptable military attire. Do cowboys belong in combat? And does a cavalry hat have a different military vibe?
Amidst all this, Pilestedt did hint at something exciting on the horizon in that thread. “[A] perk that allows players to take sidearms as their primary weapon and wield them akimbo,” he mentioned. “It’s a bit too complex to animate right now, but maybe in the future?”
So, do you sport a hat over your helmet in the real world? Which helmet are we talking about? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
