Developer 1047 Games has rebranded its portal shooter Splitgate 2 as Splitgate: Arena Reloaded following a beta return. The free-to-play game will launch on December 17 across PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and PS4. This update refocuses on classic arena combat after community feedback.
Announcement Details
Splitgate: Arena Reloaded marks a refreshed take on the original Splitgate series, blending elements from both the first game and its short-lived sequel. After releasing Splitgate 2 earlier in 2025 and quickly pulling it back to beta due to rushed development, 1047 Games has rebuilt the experience based on player input. The studio admitted in a July statement that they 'bit off more than we could chew' with ambitious goals, leading to layoffs and a return to testing.
'After months of community feedback, testing and rebuilding the entire experience, this is Splitgate refocused on what made it special in the first place: classic arena combat without factions, abilities, or extra noise,' 1047 Games shared in the announcement. The game emphasizes fast, skillful arena shooter gameplay, described as a 'love letter to the classic shooters' that inspired the team.
Key Changes
The overhaul includes several updates to enhance the core experience:
- Removal of factions, abilities, and select equipment to prioritize pure arena combat.
- Rebuilt progression system with earnable cosmetics for weapons and characters.
- New Classic Arena mode with even starts and map pickups.
- Tuned combat for more meaningful gunfights.
- Overhauled ranked system, plus added features like Mode Select, Player Stats, and Leaderboards.
- Five new maps and six reworked arenas, totaling 20.
- Three new LMG weapons and the return of the Railgun.
1047 Games acknowledged potential skepticism around the relaunch but expressed pride in the result. 'We hope to see you back in the arena on December 17,' the studio concluded, promising more details soon.
This return aims to recapture the magic that built the studio, focusing on shared, expressive multiplayer moments for both new and veteran players.