According to Kotaku, Splitgate 2, the arena shooter from 1047 Games, has officially rebranded to Splitgate: Arena Reloaded after a notoriously rocky launch. The game first launched in mid-2025 but was pulled back into an indefinite beta status just one month later in July 2025, following intense fan backlash. That backlash was fueled by a controversial Summer Game Fest 2025 appearance where director Ian Proulx wore a “Make FPS Great Again” hat and by the game’s aggressive microtransactions and costly cosmetic bundles. The developer has now released a promotional video claiming the experience has been rebuilt “from the ground up” under its new name. The original Splitgate first impressed players back in 2019 with its unique blend of Halo-style combat and Portal mechanics.
A self-inflicted wound
Man, where to even start? This was a masterclass in how to alienate your core audience. The original Splitgate built up a ton of goodwill by offering a clever, fast-paced twist on a classic genre. Then, for the sequel, they come out swinging with a cringe-worthy, politically-adjacent rant at a major industry event and stuff the game full of the very monetization practices they seemed to be railing against. It’s a baffling disconnect. You can’t posture as the savior of “classic” shooters while your game is nickel-and-diming players with expensive skins and bundles. And throwing a battle royale mode into the mix? For a game supposedly about tight arena combat? It just felt confused and cynical.
Can a reload succeed?
So now we have Splitgate: Arena Reloaded. The name change is a clear attempt to signal a fresh start, a “do-over.” The promise of being rebuilt “from the ground up” is a big one—you can check out their new promotional video to see what they’re selling. But here’s the thing: players have long memories, especially for drama. Going back to beta for five months is a significant move, but is it enough to scrub away that first impression? Rebuilding gameplay systems is one thing; rebuilding trust is a whole other battle. The gaming landscape is littered with live-service games that tried to course-correct after a bad launch, and only a handful ever truly recover. The core concept is still solid, but 1047 Games has to prove this isn’t just a cosmetic rename. They need to show the monetization is fair and the vision is focused. Basically, they need to actually be the game Ian Proulx talked about on that stage, not the one they originally shipped.
