After some very public missteps and an unprecedented return to beta, Splitgate is hoping to make a comeback under a new name. At the PC Games Show, 1047 Games announced that Splitgate 2 will return as Splitgate: Arena Reloaded on December 17, with massive gameplay and progression changes that aim to bring the shooter closer to its roots.
According to 1047 Games design director Josh Watson, the studio has been rebuilding the game “from the ground up,” incorporating and refining the best elements from both Splitgate games while “removing what didn’t work.” In a video announcement, Watson specifically cited Unreal Tournament, Quake, and Halo as the main inspirations for Splitgate.
To that end, the rebooted Splitgate will lack the Factions and Abilities introduced in Splitgate 2 for a more “classic arena combat” experience. Arena Reloaded also contains retooled progression and ranked systems, along with reduced in-game store prices; Splitgate 2’s microtransactions were a major pain point with players when the game first launched.
Additionally, Splitgate: Arena Unloaded adds five new maps, six “fully reworked” maps, three new Primary Weapons, and a Railgun power weapon. 1047 Games emphasizes that all the new additions are based on community feedback through public playtesting.
1047 Games announced last month that the Splitgate 2 beta ends on December 4, with the game going offline afterward before its relaunch. As with Splitgate 2, Splitgate: Arena Reloaded will be free-to-play on PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
Splitgate 2 first launched in open beta form in May before a full release in June. After a public controversy in which 1047 Games wore a “Make FPS Great Again” hat at Summer Game Fest, along with microtransaction complaints and developer layoffs, the game reverted back to beta in July.