Splitgate 2 returns with a new name, no heroes, and a focus on capturing the arena FPS magic of Quake and Halo

I personally thought that Splitgate 2 was good fun, but there's no denying that the ambitious sequel to the Portal-meets-Halo shooter misread the room in a few vital areas. It was bloated with ideas that it didn't really need in the pursuit of Call of Duty levels of content, and as a result it didn't attract the kind of crowds it needed to. After less than two months, 1047 Games put Splitgate 2 back into a beta state, but recently promised that it would return before the end of the year. Well, we've now got a release date, along with a look at some stripped-back gameplay and confirmation of a brand new name. Splitgate 2 is no more. Meet Splitgate Arena Reloaded.

I loved the original Splitgate, but it lacked the polish and cadence of content required to compete with some of the biggest and best FPS games. After drumming up some serious investment cash, Splitgate 2 looked to be the perfect solution - the same, portal-based action, reimagined in Unreal Engine 5, and bursting at the seams with modes, maps, and weapons. However, I (and many others) think that it overshot. There was so much on offer that you wouldn't know where to look, and while the gameplay loop was reminiscent of the first game I adored so much, the introduction of hero shooter elements and abilities diluted it. As a result, it went back to the drawing board, and with its re-reveal as Splitgate Arena Reloaded, we can finally see what 1047 has been up to.

The headline change is this: Splitgate 2's controversial heroes and abilities are gone. Instead, you'll find something more akin to the original Splitgate's gameplay, with a focus on movement, gunplay, and, of course, portal placement.

"We've been hard at work rebuilding the game from the ground up, taking the best of Splitgate 1 and Splitgate 2, removing what didn't work, and refining what did," says design director Josh Watson.

"Splitgate has always been a love letter to the arena shooters we grew up playing," he adds. "Unreal Tournament, Quake, Halo - games that defined what made the genre special. With Arena Reloaded, our goal is to introduce that feeling to a whole new generation."

With that focus on old-school shooter gameplay, the game is bringing "new arena modes, playlist selection, and a true Classic Arena mode with even starts and powerups." There's no mention here of some of the larger experiences that really weighed down Splitgate 2, like its 24-player Onslaught modes or attempt at an Apex Legends-esque battle royale, which is encouraging. Although there's no explicit confirmation that they've been ditched either.

You can also expect to find five fresh maps and six "fully-reworked" ones, three new primary weapons, and the Railgun has been added as an extra power weapon.

Splitgate Arena Reloaded also promises a rebuilt progression system and a rework to Ranked play, allowing for a more satisfying climb up the competitive ladder. Another pain point from Splitgate 2's launch has also been addressed, with 1047 promising it has "reduced store prices" and "improved overall cosmetic quality." The Battle Pass system has also been "simplified."

So, from the ashes of Splitgate 2 comes Splitgate Arena Reloaded, and it'll launch as a free-to-play game on Steam and the Epic Games Store on Wednesday, December 17. I'm extremely hopeful that this second attempt will find the sweet spot and that players return to Arena Reloaded to give the game another chance.