Context: Helldivers 2 is a 2024 live service FPS in which you are a Helldiver, a super-soldier fighting aliens to protect super earth. It's basically if Starship Troopers was a game and also poured the satire on even more thick.

Like most live service games, Helldivers 2 is sustained by cosmetics, which are released in packs that it calls Warbonds. Think of these like battle passes in Fortnite (or your game of choice), where you can earn cosmetics over time by playing the game or purchase them for instant access.

Recently, Helldivers released the most recent Warbond, a western-themed one called Borderline Justice. It contains three armor sets: a vaguely mandalorian-themed set, a more bounty-hunter themed set, and a sheriff themed set, as well as a "tip hat" emote. None of the sets came with a cowboy hat.

Immediately, a couple of people made threads comparing it to other live service games, mostly positively, praising Helldivers for "keeping its art direction" and "being accurate" amidst all the sellouts, using the counterexample of a couple of armor sets from the competing live service game, Destiny 2.

I am 100% fine with no big silly cowboy hat. The baret works because it's military. Let's not start the slippery slope of haveing crazy hats

I personally prefer that our space soldiers still look like space soldiers

However, commenters were pretty divided, with some people calling out the OPs, defending the D2 sets, or making suggestions of different kinds of hats, and others defending or agreeing with the OPs.

Thread 1:

Google "us civil war cavalary hats"

• a swedish developer who utilizes bandoliers(which was used in europe but is famous for mexican and cowboys in todays media) didnt include somberos or cowboy hats? color me shocked.
  
  • Do you know what a spaghetti western is and why it's called that?

Let's be honest, the community would have been ecstatic if an armor set similar to the Tex Mechanica set in D2 was in HD2. It really isn't that much of a slippery slope on silly hats tbh when the ceremonial DP armor is already in game.

• The Tex Mechanica armor is such a bad argument too. It fits in Destiny's style perfectly. It doesn't at all look out of place in-game.
• Yeah people are acting like there aren't some goofy ass armor sets in this game. We literally have storm trooper armor

Man y'all are such party poopers. Let people have fun. If it isn't ridiculous crap like skimpy bikinis for armor or obnoxious neon lights then it's fine. This community gets so divisive when new stuff gets added, it's getting ridiculous. If AH doesn't feel like adding/changing things then they simply won't.

• Exactly like these people will die on the hill that cowboy hats make no sense and are silly and will then go use sleeveless space rambo armor or yogurt company themed armor and a 400 yo bolt action and lever action

Some of you guys take your pretend space military too seriously

Nevermind that stetsons have seen use in cavalry uniforms in the past

If you don't want it fine but you don't need to act like people on the other side are threatening to ruin the game

• OP: I didn't say that. And in the past? Sure but we're a futuristic odst/mandolorian soldiers so a bullet belt? Sure. A cowboy hat? I dont think it should be added
  • So a lever action rifle and literal sticks of dynamite are fine but liberty forbid we have cool hats that probably had more use in military history than said rifles and sticks of dynamite

"puts a clown wearing a cowboy hat"

Oh no, your argument is airtight!

Superstore armor should have a hat

• OP: My point is i don't want silly costumes
• Including a giant cowboy hat
  • Our point is you hate fun
    

Thread 2:

I love that the community supports arrowhead in their rules and regulations against IP dilution. Helldivers shouldn't end up like basically every other online shooter, with pink bunny suits and Godzilla running around.

• I'm confident that it wont. I played fortnite until I couldnt bear it anymore at the end of 2024. It's very satisfying to see a developer like AH refuse to be moneygrabbers and put the IP first. Some collabs would be brilliant, but as AH have stated they should fit the aesthetic.
  • Well yeah they say that but then they put a guy with a sheriff star in the game

"original aesthetic"

My man it's been 10 years, you think bungie WOULDN'T branch out to more styles in d2? (technically 8~ish if you want to account the time of Spire of the watcher's release, but you get the point)

• Seriously, people are so gatekeepy about fun. You ignore all the realism elsewhere, just let people have a fucking hat or its not a cowboy warbond. Literally the only thing exclusively cowboy about this warbond is the dynamite and the one sheriff star.

The superstore armor sure doesn’t look like a soldier. It’s a lawman cosplay, nothing to do with military.

• That looks kinda terrible tbh. Just give him a fucking hat for fuchsia sake, you don't have to wear it if you don't like it lol

Yeah, praise the gods AH is still keeping to the aesthetic despite all community cries for cheesy stuff.

• we dont have cheesy stuff, but we have abunch of sub par cosmetic skins
  • And the cheesy stuff at least is sorta in universe
• Hats are dumb, and if you wear one you’re dumb
  • AI in profile, lack of taste is noted

Meanwhile, in Warframe: Fuck it, David Bowie!!!!

• Funnily Warframe had a similar "controversy" 10 years ago, when Mesa (the cowboy frame) got introduced: https://forums.warframe.com/topic/363198-ninjas-play-free-why-do-we-not-act-like-a-ninja/
• "We're meant to be ninjas, not cowboys" vs the "i just want guns and fun" crowds ;) Yeah the state of Warframe now... ... i remember doing zero/low kill stealth missions for fun, last time i played the body count was like every Arnie movie + every Rambo movie stacked together.

Totally agree. I hope they never cave to the children that play this game. Homage is great. Allusion is cool. Themes are fun. But they gotta stay in the aesthetic and not break the immersion. Viper Commandos, Servants of Freedom, and Killzone collabs came a little close for me but they worked out and I am since very happy with them. I’m hopeful they can keep toeing the line so well.

• "I hope they never give the players of the game what they want" lol you realize that's MOST of the people who play the game. Give me hat!

And finally:

Ayup. Community keeps demanding things as if it’s deserved I really hope AH doesn’t lose their vision for the sake of loud redditors

• Um... no? We're asking for these things with the expectation that we will provide monetary compensation for them. We're expressing our desire for a product we wish to purchase.
  • Cringe redditor