Splitgate 2: Back to the Drawing Board (and Saying Goodbye to the OG)
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
*Splitgate 2* is getting pulled back into the oven for a major rework after failing to stick the landing, and the original *Splitgate* is sadly being shut down due to costs, all while 1047 Games hopes to recapture the portal magic in the future.
Right, so the portal-shootin' shenanigans over at 1047 Games have taken a bit of a turn, haven't they? According to Game Rant, *Splitgate 2* is being "unlaunched." Yes, you read that right. Unlaunched. Like they accidentally fired the rocket before strapping themselves in. And, as if that weren't enough, they're pulling the plug on the original *Splitgate* too.
Now, *Splitgate* had its moment, didn't it? Remember that initial burst of hype? The frantic portal-hopping and gravity-defying gunfights? *Splitgate 2* aimed to recapture that lightning in a bottle, but, fair dinkum, it seems like the bottle was cracked from the get-go. Game Rant reports that *Splitgate 2*, despite a beta that showed promise, just didn't hook players like the original did. Turns out, expensive microtransactions and a lack of truly compelling, innovative features compared to its predecessor didn't exactly win hearts. (Who'd have thought?)
1047 Games themselves seem to agree. They've admitted, via Twitter, that they launched *Splitgate 2* "too early," with features feeling a bit rushed and… well, not quite ready for prime time. They're promising big, sweeping changes for a relaunch sometime in 2026, involving more playtests and community feedback. Which, let's be honest, sounds like a much better plan than whatever they did the first time around.
But here's the kicker: to focus on this *Splitgate 2* overhaul, 1047 Games has made the “incredibly difficult decision” (that's PR speak for "we had to do it") to lay off a significant chunk of their staff – reportedly around 45 employees, according to Game Rant. Ouch. That's the kind of collateral damage that makes you wince.
And about the original *Splitgate* shutting down… yeah, that stings. Proulx and Bagamian (the co-founders) apparently wanted to keep it running indefinitely, but server costs have been bleeding them dry – hundreds of thousands of dollars, apparently. They're at least exploring the possibility of offline play and peer-to-peer matches, which would be a solid consolation prize.
So, what does this all mean? Well, it means 1047 Games is taking a gamble. They're betting that a complete rework of *Splitgate 2*, fueled by community feedback, will pay off in the long run. It's a risky move, especially considering the layoffs. But hey, at least they're listening to the players (eventually). Whether it'll be enough to revive the franchise remains to be seen, but you can't fault 'em for trying. We'll see if the portal magic can be recaptured in 2026. I reckon it will be worth keeping an eye on.
Tags: Splitgate, FPS, Gaming News, Layoffs, Game Development
Original article: Game Rant