Splitgate 2 has suffered a massive exodus of players, losing more than 80% of its Steam player base less than a month after its official launch. The free-to-play first-person shooter, developed by 1047 Games, was positioned as a spiritual successor to classic arena shooters with its signature portal mechanic that blended Halo-like gameplay with Portal-inspired movement.
The game’s rapid decline happened at the same time as a controversial unveiling at Summer Game Fest, where CEO Ian Proulx appeared wearing a “Make FPS Great Again” hat—a direct reference to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s campaign slogan. During this presentation, Proulx criticized industry trends like live service models and the cancellation of beloved franchises such as Titanfall 3.
The irony wasn’t lost on viewers when moments later, Proulx announced Splitgate 2 would include a battle royale mode—exactly the sort of bandwagoning the presentation seemed to criticize. This perceived hypocrisy set off immediate negative reactions from fans who had been drawn to the original Splitgate‘s unique identity as a portal-based arena shooter.
“They clearly don’t even know their audience,” noted one player, echoing widespread sentiment that the developers had misunderstood what made the original game special.
After seeing the negative reception, Proulx issued statements clarifying the hat was simply a PR stunt rather than a political endorsement, eventually apologizing as criticism continued. But the damage was already done.
Technical issues piled onto the game’s problems. Players reported server instability, limited gameplay modes, confusing portal and map design, and lack of matchmaking balance. The monetization model also drew complaints, especially after the release of a cosmetic bundle priced at an eye-watering $130 (later discounted to $18).
The original Splitgate gained popularity in 2021 for its fresh take on arena shooters, giving players the ability to create portals on specific surfaces for strategic movement and combat. Splitgate 2 shifted away from this focused approach, adding hero-based classes and diluting what made its predecessor stand out.
While free-to-play games usually see some drop-off after launch, an 80% decline is unusually steep—especially considering that Splitgate 2 started with modest player numbers compared to industry-leading shooters.
1047 Games has tried to reverse the shrinking player base with in-game events and updates to its monetization, but these moves haven’t brought players back. The company, which raised $100 million in 2021 at a $1.5 billion valuation, now faces questions about the game’s sustainability and where it goes from here.
