This October will mark ten years since the release of Respawn’s Titanfall 2, and ten extremely long years without a proper sequel. Fans of the series have grown accustomed to getting everything other than what they want, such as the extremely successful, giant mech-less battle royale spin-off Apex Legends. It appears another finger on the monkey’s paw has begun to curl as a “spiritual successor” is in development at a studio that is not as contentious as EA, though not for lack of trying.
Tom Henderson of Insider-Gaming says he has been sent pre-alpha footage of 1047 Games’ next project, Empulse. The footage is of a team deathmatch mode, and what Henderson describes will ring a few familiar bells for Titanfall fans. Wall running, grappling hooks, and most crucially a giant mech companion that the player may pilot. In this multiplayer mode, the mechs are scattered throughout the map, allowing players to unleash a whole lot of big hurt on opponents.
What Henderson describes sounds promising, even if derivative. It also sounds consistent with the project 1047’s CEO Ian Proulx described earlier this year. “We’ve had a small section of the team start working on a new game in addition to Splitgate,” said Proulx. “It is a movement shooter, and if you’re a fan of games like Titanfall or Black Ops 3, we would love to hear from you.”
Promises aside, it wouldn’t be the first time Titanfall fans or this studio have watched something snatched from the jaws of victory. Proulx has mentioned wanting a Titanfall 3 before, namely during his Summer Games Fest appearance last year. There, he lambasted Call of Duty and donned a “MAKE FPS GREAT AGAIN” hat. He didn’t let the groanable stunt go, hoping to juice the controversy well after. That Summer Games appearance was in service to Splitgate 2, which has also been the victim of a fidgety, rocky release. Whether Proulx’s antics are merely the symptom or the source of Splitgate‘s issues, it has put the game in frequent disarray in a year marred with live-service cynicism.
It’s never too late to read the room. Empulse could prove to be an escape ladder for fans of Splitgate and Titanfall alike. Or it could be a bad luck charm compounded from two of the unluckiest fandoms out there.
