1047 Games tried to save its Splitgate sequel with a December rebrand and relaunch. It didn’t work.
The studio relaunched the game as “Splitgate: Arena Reloaded” on December 17th with minimal marketing. Player counts remained low despite the rework bringing the game closer to what made the original popular.
The original Splitgate hit its stride in 2021 as a free-to-play arena shooter that mixed Halo-style gunplay with Portal mechanics. The game attracted a dedicated following when Halo Infinite stumbled at launch.
But 1047 Games stopped actively supporting the original in early 2022 to focus on a sequel. The decision confused fans who felt the studio abandoned momentum at its peak.
The sequel’s reveal showed a different game. The studio added loadout systems and classes while deprioritizing the portal mechanics that defined the original. Many fans felt the identity had shifted away from the tight arena shooter they loved.
At Summer Games Fest, the CEO appeared on stage wearing a “Make FPS Great Again” hat. The studio teased an announcement “bigger than a campaign.” That announcement turned out to be a Battle Royale mode set to an Imagine Dragons song.
The launch brought more controversy. The game featured a $140 bundle that set off immediate blowback. The studio later cut the price in half after players revolted over the monetization.
The sequel flopped. Player counts stayed low and matchmaking struggled. 1047 Games acknowledged the problems and promised to return to the drawing board.
The rework stripped out many of the sequel’s new systems. The studio brought back the arena shooter focus that made Splitgate 1 successful. Classes were removed and portal mechanics became central again.
Too little too late
The December relaunch tried to capitalize on those changes. But the rebrand happened quietly during the holiday season when major sales and established shooters dominated attention.
The live-service shooter market is unforgiving. Games like Fortnite and Apex Legends have locked down huge player bases. Breaking through requires consistent player counts for healthy matchmaking and a clear message about what changed.
