1047 Games has officially announced that its highly anticipated free first-person shooter, Splitgate 2, will revert to a beta phase. This decision follows player feedback indicating that the game did not meet expectations. The studio also revealed a second round of layoffs as part of a restructuring effort aimed at refining the game.
In a post on X dated July 22, 2023, co-founders Ian Proulx and Nicholas Bagamian acknowledged the ambitious nature of their initial vision for Splitgate 2. They stated, “We’ve heard your feedback, and we agree with you. We had ambitious goals with Splitgate 2, and in our excitement to share it with you, we bit off more than we could chew.” The studio plans to spend the next several months reworking major elements of the game to better align with the community’s expectations.
Plans for Major Revisions and Community Engagement
The co-founders outlined several key changes that will be implemented as part of the beta return. These include a complete overhaul of the game’s progression system, the addition of more portals on maps, simplified monetization strategies, and a renewed focus on classic game modes that players have been requesting. “Now more than ever, we need your help,” they emphasized, highlighting a commitment to developing the game in collaboration with the community.
In an interview with Polygon, Proulx further elaborated on the studio’s intention to prioritize player feedback. “We’re returning not just to our roots in what we build, but in how we build it – with you. That means more playtests, more surveys, more listening, and truly being community first,” he explained.
Impact of Layoffs and Server Shutdowns
The announcement of the game’s return to beta comes alongside news of layoffs at 1047 Games. This marks a second wave of job reductions, occurring just a month after the studio initially cut an undisclosed number of positions in June. In their social media statement, the founders described the layoffs as a heartbreaking but necessary decision. “To give ourselves the time to build the Splitgate you deserve, we’ve made the incredibly difficult decision to reduce certain roles and shift our resources to focus on this rework,” they noted.
As part of efforts to retain as many team members as possible, the studio plans to shut down servers for the original Splitgate next month. Despite this, they confirmed that Chapter 3 of Splitgate 2 will still be released as scheduled.
GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to 1047 Games for further clarification regarding the number of employees affected by the recent layoffs, as well as those impacted in June. As the studio moves forward, Proulx and Bagamian remain committed to supporting affected employees with severance packages and job placement assistance, expressing hope to welcome them back in the future when conditions improve.
