Splitgate 2
{{Infobox video game
| title = Splitgate 2
| image = File:Splitgate 2 cover art.jpg
| developer = 1047 Games
| publisher = 1047 Games
| director = Ian Proulx
| platforms = {{ubl|PlayStation 4|PlayStation 5|Windows|Xbox One|Xbox Series X/S}}
| engine = Unreal Engine 5
| released = June 6, 2025
| modes = Multiplayer
| genre = First-person shooter
}}
Splitgate 2 is a free-to-play first-person shooter developed and published by 1047 Games. A successor to Splitgate (2019), it was released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S in June 2025.
Gameplay
Splitgate 2 is a first-person shooter. Players can place portals between two points on a map, and they can fire weapons or travel through those portals. The game features several gameplay modes. In addition to the round-based team deathmatch mode,{{cite web|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/splitgate-2-remains-a-portal-hopping-fps-delight-but-it-really-needs-to-lighten-up|title=Splitgate 2 remains a portal-hopping FPS delight, but it really needs to lighten up|first=Ed|last=Thorn|work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun|date=August 21, 2025|accessdate=June 7, 2025}} the game introduces Hot Zone, a mode similar to King of the Hill. In Hot Zone, respawn time gradually increases as a match progresses, though successful eliminations will lower the respawn time. Splitgate 2 also has a 60-player battle royale mode.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/splitgate-battle-royale-mode-out-now-alongside-splitgate-2-official-release/1100-6532195/|title=Splitgate Battle Royale Mode Out Now Alongside Splitgate 2 Official Release|first=Eddie|last=Makuch|work=GameSpot|date=June 6, 2025|accessdate=June 7, 2025}} and a map creator named the Lab.{{cite web|url=https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/news/splitgate-2-preview-open-beta-launch-classes-map-creator|title=Splitgate 2 is a bigger and bolder portal-based shooter|first=Diego |last=Nicolás Argüello|publisher=Epic Games Store|date=May 15, 2025|accessdate=June 7, 2025}}
The game has three factions of characters, with each having their own unique gameplay mechanics. The faction "Aeros" is fast and agile for players who prefer fast-paced gameplay; Meridian is a support-focused faction that can heal allies, detect enemy location, and track an enemy's health level; Sabrask focuses mainly on using defensive strategies rather than using portals, and players can place "smart walls" that block enemy attacks.{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/splitgate-2/gameplay-reveal-factions|title=Splitgate 2's factions give you more ways to play the multiplayer FPS|first=Ken|last=Allsop|work=PCGamesN|date=August 8, 2024|accessdate=June 7, 2025}}
Development
In September 2022, 1047 Games announced that they have ended the development of Splitgate to work on a new, free-to-play game set in the same universe.{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/splitgate-is-ending-feature-development-so-dev-can-focus-on-new-game-in-same-universe|title=Splitgate "ending feature development" so dev can focus on new shooter in same universe|first=Matt|last=Wales|work=Eurogamer|date=September 2, 2022|accessdate=June 7, 2025}} While the first game was created by about 15 people, Splitgate 2 was created by a team of more than 200 people. While the original Splitgate 2 started as a student game, Splitgate 2 was considered by Ian Proulx, the creative director, as a triple-A product. He cited hero shooters, Call of Duty, and Halo as the game's main sources of inspiration, and compared the game to Valorant, in which a player's success in combat is governed by their "ability to shoot and portal and have good positioning" rather than the use of active abilities. Maps in Splitgate 2 were designed to be more symmetrical and less vertical, with greater similarities to maps from multiplayer games like Call of Duty than to those of arena shooters.{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/splitgate-2-isn-t-halo-with-portals-anymore-but-it-may-be-something-better/|title=Splitgate 2 isn't 'Halo with portals' anymore, but it may be something even better|first=Morgan|last=Park|work=PC Gamer|date=August 26, 2024|accessdate=June 7, 2025}}
1047 Games announced Splitgate 2 in July 2024.{{cite web|url=https://gameinformer.com/2024/07/18/splitgate-2-leaps-out-of-a-new-portal-next-year|title=Splitgate 2 Leaps Out Of A New Portal Next Year|first=Marcus|last=Stewart|work=Game Informer|date=July 18, 2024|accessdate=June 7, 2025}} An open beta including 25 weapons, 15 maps and 10 modes was released on May 22, 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/splitgate-2-open-beta-is-live-is-almost-the-full-game-and-wont-wipe-progress/1100-6531723/|title=Splitgate 2 Open Beta Is Live, Is Almost The Full Game (And Won't Wipe Progress)|first=Cameron|last=Koch|work=GameSpot|date=May 22, 2025|accessdate=June 7, 2025}} The game was released in full on June 6, 2025 for Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X and Series S.{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/gaming/splitgate-2-will-exit-its-beta-and-get-an-official-release-on-june-6-185839801.html|title=Splitgate 2 will exit its beta and get an official release on June 6|first=Lawrence|last=Bonks|work=Engadget|date=June 4, 2025|accessdate=June 7, 2025}} Splitgate 2 was designed to be a live service game, with 1047 planning to add and rotate content regularly.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/games/fps/we-didnt-make-the-game-of-our-dreams-splitgate-2-is-a-aaa-fps-built-to-last-a-decade-or-more-using-everything-the-first-fps-couldnt-be-all-in-unreal-engine-5/|title="We didn’t make the game of our dreams": Splitgate 2 is a AAA FPS built to "last a decade or more" using everything the first FPS couldn't be, all in Unreal Engine 5|first=Ashley|last=Bardhan|work=GamesRadar|date=July 18, 2024|accessdate=June 7, 2025}}
Reception
On June 6, 2025, at the 2025 Summer Game Fest, a trailer presentation from Proulx received negative reception from both game journalists and fans when he appeared on the stage wearing a "Make FPS Great Again" hat, while criticizing other FPS games like Halo and Call of Duty.{{Cite web |last=Parrish |first=Ash |date=2025-06-06 |title=Everybody hated that. |url=https://www.theverge.com/games/682033/everybody-hated-that |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}} He later claimed it was "not a political statement" on social media, although PCGamesN described it as "tone-deaf" regardless of whether it was. An additional controversy emerged over the game's expensive launch microtransactions, such as a "Nano Swarm" bundle that costed USD $70 even at a 45% discount. Players also accused the developers of hypocrisy for including a battle royale mode, commonly seen in the Call of Duty series. Proulx responded to the backlash by announcing the price of the bundle and other microtransactions in the game's store would be halved, as well as stating that he believed the development team had innovated sufficiently to not be "[chasing] a trend" by including battle royale.{{Cite web |last=Allsop |first=Ken |date=2025-06-07 |title=After promising to fix FPS games, new multiplayer shooter faces microtransaction blowback |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/splitgate-2/microtransaction-controversy |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=PCGamesN |language=en-US}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://www.splitgate.com/}}
Category:First-person shooter multiplayer online games
Category:Free-to-play video games
Category:Science fiction video games
Category:Unreal Engine 4 games
Category:Video games developed in the United States