Portal Problems: Splitgate 2 Retreats to Beta, Original Shut Down, and Ouch, Layoffs
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Splitgate 2 is going back into beta after a rough launch, resulting in layoffs at 1047 Games and the original Splitgate shutting down – a tough break, but the team's vowing to come back swinging. It looks like they might have opened a portal to a dimension full of development nightmares.
Right, so remember Splitgate 2? The game that promised to, according to studio founder Ian Proulx's rather bold hat at Summer Game Fest, "Make FPS Great Again"? Well, it seems the portals weren't quite aligned properly. 1047 Games just announced they're yanking Splitgate 2 back into beta, sunsetting the original *Splitgate*, and, in news that always stings, laying off staff.
According to a statement released this week (originally reported by Eurogamer), 1047 Games admitted they jumped the gun on the Splitgate 2 launch. "We had ambitious goals... and we bit off more than we could chew," the statement reads. "We rushed certain features, made some boneheaded mistakes, and most importantly - we didn't give you the polished, portal-filled mayhem you fell in love with." Sounds like someone accidentally opened a portal to a dimension full of development nightmares.
So, what's the plan? Splitgate 2 is heading back to the development dungeon for a major overhaul. Think progression tweaks, more portals (because, you know, *portals* are kind of the point), and a promised "simplification" of the monetisation. They're aiming for an "early next year" relaunch, and the game will remain playable during this rebuilding phase. Chapter Three is still on the cards, and they're promising to address the game's most glaring issues.
But here's the kicker: this retreat has come at a cost. 1047 Games is laying off staff, a move they described as "heartbreaking." Apparently, 45 members of the team are affected. Ouch. This is, unfortunately, after they already made cuts shortly after *Splitgate 2's* initial, ill-fated launch. That's gotta sting.
Now, let's be real. Splitgate 2 hasn't exactly been setting the charts on fire. Recent Steam numbers show a 24-hour peak of just over 1,700 players, a far cry from its all-time high of nearly 26,000. And who can forget last month's cosmetic bundle debacle? An $80 USD price tag (allegedly discounted from $145) didn't exactly endear them to the community. They later slashed the price and promised to listen more closely to players. Maybe a little too late, eh?
Look, it's easy to be cynical about these things. Another studio overpromises, underdelivers, and then lays off staff? We've seen this movie before. But you gotta give 1047 Games credit for at least owning up to their mistakes. "We've faced a lot of dark days and have made many mistakes, but we've learned a lot and are as determined as ever to make Splitgate as great as possible," they wrote. "Splitgate has been our life for 10 years, and we wouldn't have it any other way. We've got work to do, but we aren't giving up." That's the kind of fighting spirit I can respect.
Will Splitgate 2 rise from the ashes like a phoenix made of portals? It's a long shot, but hey, stranger things have happened. Maybe they’ll sprinkle in some web3 magic along the way. (Nah, just kidding... unless?) Either way, it's a good reminder that even in the fast-paced world of gaming, sometimes you need to take a step back to move forward. We’ll be watching to see if they can pull off this epic comeback.
(Source: Eurogamer)
Tags: Splitgate, FPS, Layoffs, Beta, Gaming News
Original article: Eurogamer