Update June 11, 2025: Ian posted an apology.
The sequel to a fan-favorite shooter is here. But instead of a celebratory return, Splitgate 2 launched into a storm of pricing backlash, tonal misfires, and credibility issues. After watching how the developers chose to present themselves at Summer Game Fest, and how they reacted once things blew up, it raises a bigger question:
How do you trust a company that already tried to push the limits of what it could get away with?
A Tone-Deaf Debut
Let’s start with what should’ve been a moment of excitement. Ian Proulx, CEO of 1047 Games, walked on stage at Summer Game Fest wearing a red hat that said “Make FPS Great Again.” He joked at the expense of other developers, dropped an f-bomb during a kid-friendly stream, and rolled out the trailer for Splitgate 2. It was meant to be bold and edgy. It came off as cringey and disconnected.
The trailer, featuring a new battle royale mode and an overused Imagine Dragons song, didn’t help. Viewers didn’t see innovation. They saw a mishmash of what’s already out there, now packaged with a try-hard attitude.
$80 Skins and a $145 Bundle?
Then came the real controversy: the prices. Splitgate 2 launched as free-to-play on June 6, but its store was anything but friendly. Players spotted cosmetics priced as high as $80 for a single skin bundle, with others reportedly hitting $145 before discounts. A $34 portal skin? Really?
This wasn’t a minor pricing hiccup. It looked like a cash grab from a company that once mocked other shooters for their monetization practices. The hypocrisy wasn’t lost on fans. The internet made sure the receipts were public.
To make matters worse, 1047 Games asked players to pre-order a season pass. That’s not bold. That’s desperate.
Backpedaling After the Blowback
To their credit, 1047 Games responded quickly. They had to.
Prices were slashed. The $80 Nano Swarm bundle dropped to $40. That $34 portal skin? Now $12. Refunds were promised in Splitcoins, not cash, for anyone who bought in early. It was a fast pivot. One that only drew more attention to how outrageous the original pricing was in the first place.
Proulx chalked up the mistake to a former head of monetization with a Call of Duty background. He said it “slipped through the cracks.” But let’s be honest: confirming store prices before launch is so basic, it’s hard to believe it was an oversight. It feels like they were testing the waters to see how far they could go.
This Isn’t Their First Abandonment
If any of this feels familiar, that’s because it is.
The first Splitgate launched in early access back in 2019 and exploded in popularity during its 2021 beta. But instead of riding that momentum to a full release, 1047 Games left it in beta indefinitely, and stopped updating it to focus on Splitgate 2.
That’s not a red flag. That’s a full siren.
You Don’t Owe Them Anything
Right now, Splitgate 2 is free-to-play. That’s the good news. But free doesn’t mean trust has been earned. If anything, this launch is a perfect example of why it’s okay to wait.
Let the developers prove themselves. Consistently. Not with apologies, not with deep discounts after the fact, but with real transparency, fair monetization, and long-term commitment. Set your standards high. You’re allowed to expect more.
Because if they tried to get away with this once, what’s stopping them from trying again?
