Developer 1047 Games has defended the performance of its relaunched game, Splitgate Arena Reloaded, emphasizing that Steam player counts do not reflect the overall experience. The title, formerly known as Splitgate 2, returned in December after a troubled development period. Despite modest PC numbers, the studio highlights community engagement and upcoming features.
Splitgate Arena Reloaded emerged from the ashes of Splitgate 2, which 1047 Games pulled back to beta in July 2025 following underwhelming results and subsequent layoffs. In November 2025, the studio announced a relaunch under the new name, set for December 17, 2025. The game arrived free-to-play, promising refined gameplay and fresh content.
On Steam, the relaunch achieved a peak of 2,297 concurrent players, settling to around 1,000 in subsequent days. Console performance remains undisclosed. Addressing concerns over these figures, 1047 Games stated, "Steam Charts don't measure fun." The team elaborated, "They show one number, on one platform, at one given moment. They don't show the full picture or what it feels like to actually play, and they definitely don't capture the community that's actively helping shape what Arena Reloaded is becoming (including upcoming content like Arena Royale)."
Over the past six months, the developers rebuilt the game from the ground up, reaffirming their commitment: "The 1047 team remains committed to delivering the best version of Splitgate possible." They expressed gratitude to the community for its passion and feedback, urging newcomers to try it: "To everyone who hasn't played yet: Arena Reloaded is free, the gameplay's the best it's ever been... A lot of passionate people worked very hard on it."
To boost interest, Splitgate Arena Reloaded is running competitive events, including a $5,000 tournament with content creators and a $25,000 community challenge. A welcome-back event offers the T200 character skin from the original Splitgate, aiming to rekindle player enthusiasm.