Helldivers 2 dev's CEO explains why transmog won't be coming to the game

The discussion of armor cosmetics and transmog in Helldivers 2 has been ongoing since its release, but now we know for sure it’s never coming to the game as a feature.

The gear players can unlock with earned and premium currency in Helldivers 2 allows them to experiment with different protective loadouts. Various gear sets provide different buffs in missions, but, as with most games that offer multiple gear sets, players also like to dress their Helldivers for style. Unfortunately for those players who want to have fashion Helldivers, a system that allows them to transmog their gear isn’t ever going to be in the game.

Transmog won’t ever come to Helldivers 2 because “It doesn’t make sense,” according to the dev’s CEO

In response to a fairly comprehensive post from Helldivers Alerts on Twitter about how developer Arrowhead Game Studios could implement classes and armor, one fan questioned whether transmog could just be used. After all, this would allow players to create the look and build they want for their Helldivers. However, the developer’s CEO, Johan Pilestedt, jumped in to shut this idea down.

The reasoning behind this is sound. The equipment in Helldivers 2 is designed around its purpose. Heavily armored gear looks bulky and strong, while light armor that conducts electricity sparks, visually indicating to everyone that this Helldiver can survive a Tesla Tower.

For now, players must be satisfied with their ability to create custom Helldivers based on the gear they can get in the game. I’ve seen some players running gear with white accents and red. Personally, I want to make a tanky Helldiver around the FS-55 Devastator armor, which has armor plating so high I don’t think the Helldiver can even see.

I’d love to see some of these classes implemented so they’re more impactful, but I also appreciate how that could completely ruin the design behind Helldivers 2. After all, every mission is built to work regardless of team composition, but if squads suddenly start to need four separate classes, it would dramatically change the experience.

It’s a shame because the original post really does have some great ideas. While most of us appreciate that stats are locked to certain armor pieces, we still dabble with custom cosmetics using various Capes, Helmets, and even weapons purchased from Warbonds. Based on this feedback, we can only hope that Arrowhead Game Studios launches more Warbonds with great-looking gear to satisfy the community’s need for highly functional freedom-spreading fashion.