Splitgate 2 Faces Layoffs Amid Rocky Launch

Credit: Splitgate 2

Just weeks after launching Splitgate 2, 1047 Games has confirmed that it has laid off a portion of its development team. While the exact number of affected employees hasn’t been disclosed, the studio referred to them as a “small group of valued team members” in a recent post on LinkedIn.

The studio stated that the layoffs are part of a broader effort to “redirect resources” and refine the gameplay experience based on community feedback. “We’re still perfecting the Splitgate 2 gameplay experience,” the LinkedIn post read. “We are sad to see our teammates go and are actively working to help them secure new opportunities.” To show commitment to the game's future, co-founders Ian Proulx and Nick Bagamian have reportedly chosen not to take salaries as they double down on development.

The news comes as Splitgate 2 struggles to meet expectations. Although the game launched with notable interest, especially following the addition of a Battle Royale mode, it peaked at just over 25,000 concurrent players on Steam. That’s a sharp drop compared to the original game’s all-time high of nearly 68,000 concurrent users.

Contributing to the chaos was a series of controversies that overshadowed the launch. At the Summer Game Fest 2025 showcase, CEO Ian Proulx appeared on stage wearing a cap bearing the slogan “Make FPS Great Again”— met with immediate backlash from fans. Initially, Proulx defended the move, calling it a meme and pointing to similar behavior from figures like Hideo Kojima, who once wore a “Make TV Great Again” cap. However, as criticism grew, Proulx walked back his stance and issued a public apology.

If that wasn’t enough, the studio also faced criticism for its launch-day monetization strategy. The “Nano Swarm” cosmetic bundle was initially listed at a steep $80—discounted from a supposed $145—prompting widespread complaints across social media. In response, the studio reduced the price to $40 and issued refunds to early buyers. Proulx later explained that the pricing was set by a former Call of Duty developer who led monetization efforts, and admitted that it was “aggressive.”

Critical reception has been lukewarm. IGN gave it a 7/10, calling it a “competent successor” that expands on the original but doesn’t quite surpass it. They praised the portal mechanics and class system but criticized the uninspired maps and lack of ranked mode at launch. PC Gamer was more critical, saying the game “doesn’t make FPS great again.” They felt the portals were underused and the gunplay lacked originality, though they acknowledged it’s a decent free-to-play time-waster. On Metacritic, the user score is sitting at 4.1/10, with many players saying the game feels “empty” or “uninspired.” Steam reviews are also mixed, with players enjoying the core mechanics but frustrated by matchmaking issues, monetization, and the absence of ranked play.

Despite all this, 1047 Games maintains that Splitgate 2 remains a long-term project. “We’re continuing to work hard to deliver more things we know you’ll love,” they stated.