Splitgate Developer Shifts Focus to Titanfall-Inspired Movement Shooter Empulse
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
1047 Games is leaving Splitgate 2 behind to focus on Empulse, a new Titanfall-inspired movement shooter slated for early access later this year.
1047 Games is shifting its primary focus to a new 6v6 multiplayer shooter called Empulse, according to an interview with Polygon by Giovanni Colantonio. Following a turbulent period for the studio that included the rocky launch, unlaunch, and subsequent relaunch of Splitgate 2 as Splitgate: Arena Reloaded, the team is pivoting toward a game heavily inspired by the beloved movement mechanics of Titanfall and classic arcade shooters. Empulse features wall-running, grappling hooks, and a heavy emphasis on keeping players in a constant state of fluid momentum.
While the project draws clear mechanical cues from genre staples like Titanfall 2 and movement-focused Call of Duty titles, 1047 Games is also infusing the game with unique twists. Mechs in Empulse operate as map-based power weapons rather than personal call-ins, functioning similarly to picking up a rocket launcher in Halo. Additionally, the game utilizes P.A.I.N.T. Bombs inspired by Portal 2, allowing players to coat surfaces for speed boosts that chain directly into wall-runs, slides, and snowboard-style jumps.
Development on Empulse quietly began around the time of the studio's Summer Game Fest controversies and subsequent layoffs, evolving from two separate prototypes featuring wall-running and momentum mechanics. With CEO Ian Proulx openly admitting that the player base for Arena Reloaded is not large enough to sustain their previous trajectory, Empulse is now the studio's main priority ahead of an early access launch later this year. For a community that values fast-paced, high-skill movement, this new pivot represents a major second chance for the developer to win back player trust.
Tags: Empulse, 1047 Games, Titanfall, Splitgate, FPS
Original article: Polygon