Splitgate 2’s open alpha test ran from February 27 to March 2, 2025, giving players their first hands-on experience with the portal-based first-person shooter. The sequel builds on the original game’s unique blend of Halo-style combat and Portal-inspired mechanics while introducing significant improvements to address player feedback.
The game, developed by 1047 Games, allows players to place portals on designated surfaces to create strategic pathways across the battlefield. This mechanic creates unpredictable combat scenarios where enemies can appear from virtually any direction.
“When we first started on Splitgate 2, we literally went to the whiteboard and said, all right, what are the things we do well? What are the things we don’t do well? And a lot of this is based on community feedback,” said Ian Proulx, CEO of 1047 Games.
According to Proulx, player retention was a key issue with the original game. “What we saw is players would come in, play for about three or four weeks, and then it’s like, I’ve experienced all there is to experience. I’ve had a lot of fun with it, but I’m doing the same thing over and over again.”
Enhanced Gameplay Features
Splitgate 2 introduces three distinct factions: Aeros, specializing in agility and aerial combat; Meridian, focused on defensive tactics and area control; and Sabrask, experts in stealth and strategic maneuvers. Each faction offers unique abilities and equipment that promote different playstyles.
The sequel also features improved movement mechanics, including crouch sliding, which adds a dynamic element to combat and navigation. Portal interactions have been refined to be more intuitive. For example, placing a portal on the same wall as a teammate will now line them up neatly instead of overlapping, and trying to place a portal where you already have one will move the existing portal rather than creating confusion.
Built on Unreal Engine 5, Splitgate 2 offers enhanced graphics and smoother performance compared to its predecessor.
Game Modes and Maps
The game offers a variety of modes ranging from traditional 4v4 arena combat to larger 24-player battles featuring three teams of eight. These larger battles draw inspiration from Halo’s Big Team Battle mode and provide chaotic yet strategic gameplay.
Game modes include:
- Multi-Team Hotzone: Multiple teams fight for control of a designated area
- Firecracker: A bomb defusal mode similar to Search & Destroy
- Splitball: A unique capture-the-flag variant where players score points with balls
Splitball represents the developers’ persistent attempts to make capture-the-flag mechanics work with portal gameplay. After numerous failed attempts in the original game, Proulx and his team created this innovative mode that has drawn inspiration from unexpected sources.
“A little bit of inspiration as a Top Gun Maverick fan is the dogfight,” Proulx said. “Offense and defense at the same time. What if we actually put that into Capture the Flag?”
The massive new Glacier map introduces a visually striking environment with new strategic elements. During large-team matches, airdrops with special weapons like rocket launchers appear across the map, adding another layer of tactical decision-making.
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Development Philosophy
Unlike many modern games, Splitgate 2 emphasizes innovation and player retention over monetization. “We’re innovating on gameplay here. We’re not trying to innovate on monetization,” Proulx stated.
The development team’s approach to game design has evolved significantly since the original Splitgate. Proulx admitted that he was the level designer for many maps in the first game despite limited experience. “I didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t know how people were going to play and use this wall. We didn’t know, and so we just put a ton of portal walls, kind of randomly.”
For the sequel, the team studied competitive games like Valorant and Counter-Strike to better design maps with purpose. However, after receiving player feedback during closed testing, they found they had “overthought” and “over-designed” the game, leading them to add more portal walls to maps.
“It shouldn’t be that crazy of a concept, right? We’re making a game for our customers and for our players,” Proulx said. “And, when our players ask for something, well, we’re making this for them, so we probably should listen to them.”
Post-Launch Plans
The original Splitgate unexpectedly gained popularity in 2021, with the source material stating it reached peak concurrent players and surpassed 15 million downloads. However, the small team at 1047 Games wasn’t prepared to deliver consistent content updates, causing many players to lose interest.
Proulx believes this won’t happen with the sequel. “If there’s one thing I think we’ve improved more than anything, it is going to be our live ops. It’s not just going to be lots of seasons with new maps and guns. It’s going to be every week that there is new content.”
Despite entering a market dominated by established titles like Apex Legends, Call of Duty, Fortnite, and Valorant, Proulx sees an opportunity. “I look at these games, and I’m getting bored. I know a lot of people, my friend group outside of work, are kind of in the same boat. We still play these games because they’re fun, but we are looking for something new and different.”
Splitgate 2 is set to launch as a free-to-play title later in 2025 for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, with versions for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One also planned for release, according to the source material.
“People are going to try Splitgate 2 because everybody tries the ‘new thing,'” Proulx said. “And, I think this time we’re going to have what we need to make sure that they stick around.”