"1047 Games Faces Layoffs During Splitgate 2 Launch, Co-Founders Forgo Salaries for Next Project Phase"

Splitgate 2 developer 1047 Games has confirmed a round of layoffs, impacting an undisclosed number of employees. In a move to stabilize the studio and refocus on improving the game, co-founders Ian Proulx and Nicholas Bagamian have voluntarily foregone their salaries.

The free-to-play sci-fi shooter, often described as “Halo with portals,” faced challenges from the start. Its initial momentum was derailed when Proulx wore a hat reading “Make FPS Great Again” during a Summer Game Fest appearance—an act that sparked backlash and was widely seen as a marketing misstep. During the same presentation, Proulx criticized Call of Duty, further fueling controversy.

Upon release, Splitgate 2 introduced a battle royale mode and a heavily scrutinized $145 microtransaction bundle, drawing criticism from the community. The game reached a peak of 25,785 concurrent players on Steam—less than half of the original Splitgate’s 67,724 peak. Steam reviews remain “mixed,” reflecting player dissatisfaction.

While Steam data doesn’t capture the full picture—Splitgate 2 launched across PC and consoles—1047 Games has confirmed over 2.5 million players have joined the game. Still, performance has fallen short of expectations. In a post-launch interview with IGN, Proulx admitted he was “surprised” by the backlash, stating the team “didn't expect this to be nearly as controversial as it was and we didn't intend for it to be.”

In a LinkedIn announcement, 1047 Games confirmed the layoffs, describing the affected group as a “small” but valued portion of the team. The studio emphasized its commitment to refining Splitgate 2 based on player feedback and reallocating resources to enhance the gameplay experience.

The full statement reads:

Today we parted ways with a small group of valued 1047 Games team members. We’re still perfecting the Splitgate 2 gameplay experience in response to community feedback, and we are redirecting resources to build the best game for our players. We are sad to see our teammates go, and we are actively working to help them secure new opportunities. Further, our co-founders Ian Proulx and Nicholas Bagamian have opted not to take salaries as we lock in to deliver the next phase of the project. Thank you to those who’ve built alongside us — we are sad to say goodbye and would not be here without you.

To everyone who’s playing Splitgate 2, we’re continuing to work hard to deliver more things we know you’ll love. We are committed to building this game for the long haul.

Though the studio did not disclose the exact number of affected employees or their roles, several key team members have publicly announced their departures on social media. As of this article’s publication, Splitgate 2 recorded a 24-hour peak of 10,059 concurrent players on Steam, with 4,437 currently active on the platform.

Splitgate 2 received a 7/10 in IGN’s review, with the publication noting: “Splitgate 2 is a decent successor to the original that expands on it, but never really surpasses it.”