Splitgate 2 developer responds after Summer Game Fest controversy

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1047 Games’ CEO, Ian Proulx (who is also the head honcho at Splitgate’s helm), carried on his critique of contemporary first-person shooter games on various social media platforms, having previously singled out Call of Duty during the Summer Game Fest.

At the June 6 event, Proulx, joined by host Geoff Keighley on stage for Splitgate 2 promotion, expressed his frustration with consistently playing the same Call of Duty each year. He reminisced about his past spent immersed in Halo gaming, and voiced his hope for a new Titanfall game.

Mainly attending SGF to advocate for a free-to-play battle royale mode in the sequel, Proulx’s decision to wear a cap emblazoned with the phrase ‘Make FPS Great Again’, coupled with his remarks about Call of Duty, sparked criticism from viewers.

Splitgate 2 dev responds after Summer Game Fest

In a tweet from the Splitgate 2 Twitter account, Proulx explained, “I’m not offering an apology, I’m seeking clarification.” To make things clear, he emphasized that this wasn’t a political statement but simply a straightforward declaration, so readers should understand it as stated.

The current state of multiplayer First-Person Shooter games feels uninspired. Our goal is to breathe new life into this genre, offering options like Arena, Battle Royale, Onslaught, or even a Map Creator feature,” he went on to say.

I’m not here to offer an apology, but rather to provide a clear explanation. To clarify, this statement isn’t political; it’s simply stating the fact as written. So, please understand it in that context.

The current state of multiplayer First-Person Shooter (FPS) games is disappointingly dull. Our aim is to revive the excitement, whether you prefer Arena, Battle Royale, Onslaught, or other modes…

— Splitgate 2: live now! (@Splitgate) June 7, 2025

After Proulx’s remarks, several replies highlighted that Splitgate 2 offers a variety of in-game purchase possibilities, with many of these items sharing similarities in content with Call of Duty.

YouTube personality JGOD commented, “Splitgate 2 has secretly released a Battle Royale game in the style of Resurgence, which is exciting! However, they also chose to launch a premium bundle priced over $140, advertised as having a discount of 45%. They’re trying to make FPS great again, they joke.

“One person responded to Proulx’s post by pointing out that while you criticized Call of Duty on stage, your battle royale appears to have adopted Warzone’s mechanics, and you released a $80 bundle in Splitgate 2.”

Or more casually:

“Someone replied to Proulx’s post, saying that while you were talking smack about Call of Duty on stage, it looks like your battle royale took some cues from Warzone, and you priced a $80 bundle for Splitgate 2.”

The user isn’t suggesting that the game is terrible; in fact, they enjoyed the initial Splitgate release. They played it and even invested money into it. However, they took issue with the criticism of other first-person shooter games and the subsequent application of similar practices in this game. This comment prompted a response from 1047 Games.

We believe we’ve given our shared features a distinctive twist. While monetization can be contentious, it’s entirely up to you whether or not to participate. We’re delighted to know you enjoyed our previous game, and we hope you continue to find pleasure in our current offering.

It’s not entirely certain what Proulx meant by labeling modern first-person shooter (FPS) games as “tragically stale,” but it seems that when it comes to microtransactions, fans of the genre are questioning if Splitgate 2 offers enough differentiation from other games in the market.

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2025-06-07 18:18