Splitgate 2, he portal shooter that once rivaled Halo just hit the reset button.
Splitgate 2 launched in June 2025 as the long-awaited sequel to the surprise 2019 hit. The original game exploded thanks to its “Halo meets portals” gameplay and clever viral growth. Developed by a tiny team, it managed to peak at two million daily players.
Naturally, expectations for the sequel were sky-high. This time, 1047 Games had more money, more devs, and bigger dreams. But Splitgate 2 stumbled out of the gate.
The Summer Game Fest debut was also chaotic, partly due to a political stunt by studio head Ian Proulx that blew up on social media. It didn’t help that the sequel launched while the original’s servers were still up and divided the community.
Splitgate 2 has officially “unlaunched”
In a heartfelt (and slightly heartbreaking) message to players, co-founders Ian and Nicholas admitted they launched too early. “We bit off more than we could chew,” they wrote. The fix, in their eyes, is to rebuild the game and fast.
Splitgate 2 has now returned to beta. The devs plan to rework everything from monetization to map design and progression systems. More portals, classic modes, less bloat, and fewer “boneheaded mistakes,” as they put it.
But not without cost. 1047 Games laid off several team members to fund the rework. They’re also shutting down the original Splitgate’s servers next month to cut expenses.
“Rebuilding the core experience isn’t a quick fix,” the post reads. “It’s a long-term commitment.”
Final Fantasy XIV and Cyberpunk 2077 both turned disaster into legacy with transparency and reboots. But Splitgate 2 could also go the way of Multiversus if they don’t stick the landing; a game with a promising start that fizzles fast.
Still, the devs aren’t giving up. They’re staying live with updates and asking players to help shape what comes next.
The portals are still open. The question is whether anyone will keep jumping through them.
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