You know it’s a vibe when one of the reasons a game developer creates a whole new aspect of a game is because they’re salty about another game not getting made. That’s what kind of happened with Splitgate 2, as commented on during Summer Game Fest this past weekend.
Nevada-based Studio 1047 created Splitgate: Arena Warfare, a free-to-play arena shooter with a teleportation portal mechanic—you know, just in case you ever wondered how Portal would work as an FPS. The original made waves in summer 2021 after it launched on consoles, following two years in PC-only Early Access.
Sadly, a year later, Studio 1047 announced that they were ending future development because they wanted to pursue a more ambitious sequel.
Splitgate Returns With a Surprise Mode
Screenshot of Splitgate 2 dev with awesome hat and t-shirt at Summer Game Fest Live 2025 courtesy of Summer Game Fest Live 2025That sequel is Splitgate 2, which hit PC and consoles on Friday, June 6th, with a new launch trailer shown during Summer Game Fest 2025. The game had already been in open beta, showcasing most of its free-to-play content—but 1047 kept one feature under wraps until the last second: a Battle Royale mode.
To keep it simple, it’s called Splitgate: Battle Royale.
As expected, this new mode is a fast-paced match for 60 players, organized into 15 teams of four. Each Royale is fought across Splitworlds, a massive interconnected arena made up of five biomes linked by world portals. Four of them are available as initial landing zones:
- Icy Glacier
- Fiery Inferno
- Drought Desert
- Fracture (designed as an asteroid cluster—yes, really)
Survive long enough, and you’ll access the fifth biome, rumored to hold immensely powerful rewards.
New Maps, Gear, and a Strong Return
Screenshot of Splitgate 2 gameplay courtesy of 1047 Games and Summer Game Fest Live 2025Beyond Battle Royale, Splitgate 2 also features several new maps: Simulation Hectic, Sanctum, Grit, and Academy. There’s also a new water-themed template in the map creator and a devastating new shotgun called Gravitas, along with other gear updates.
And the return of Splitgate didn’t go unnoticed.
According to SteamDB, Splitgate 2 peaked at nearly 26,000 concurrent players within hours of launch. While the original game hit a higher peak (close to 68,000), Splitgate 2 has more content and the potential for long-term support, meaning that number could steadily grow.
Mixed Reviews, But Solid Core Gameplay
As of now, Steam shows over 90,000 user impressions, with mixed reviews. Many negative ones mention frustration with Battle Royale trend-chasing and cosmetic pricing—but that’s a common issue with Battle Royale titles (looking at you, Black Ops 6).
Still, the core gameplay loop has received widespread praise.
So if the Splitgate 2 launch trailer caught your attention, grab some friends (or get used to making new ones) and jump in. You probably shouldn’t sleep on this one.
