David
Welcome back to the 'Gaming Unpacked' podcast, everyone! It's June 26th, 2025, and today we're diving into some significant news from the gaming world. I'm your host, David, and joining me, as always, is the insightful and incredibly knowledgeable Ema.
Ema
Thanks, David! It's great to be here. Today, we're unpacking a story that's been making waves, especially for fans of a certain portal-hopping shooter. We're talking about 1047 Games, the studio behind Splitgate, and some very recent, let's just say, 'developments'.
David
Exactly, Ema. We're going to explore what's been happening behind the scenes, from layoffs to some very public controversies, and what it all means for the future of the game and the studio. It's a bumpy ride, but we'll navigate it together.
Ema
So, right off the bat, the most striking news is that 1047 Games, the developers of Splitgate, recently announced they've laid off a 'small group' of their valued team members. This is a huge deal in any industry, but especially in gaming, um, where studios often face immense pressure.
David
That's a tough pill to swallow, especially for the employees affected, right? And it wasn't just the layoffs. We also learned that the studio's co-founders, Ian Proulx and Nicholas Bagamian, aren't taking salaries for the time being. That's a significant personal sacrifice.
Ema
Exactly. They've stated they're foregoing salaries until they 'lock in to deliver the next phase of the project.' This really signals a deep commitment to their vision, but it also underscores the financial strain or strategic pivot they're undergoing. It's not a decision made lightly.
David
It certainly paints a picture of a company facing some serious headwinds. The official statement from 1047 Games mentioned they're 'redirecting resources to build the best game for our players' in response to community feedback. So, it sounds like they're trying to pivot, um, to improve things.
Ema
Right, and they also assured fans they're 'committed to building this game for the long haul.' It’s a message that tries to balance tough news with reassurance for their player base. But these kinds of moves—layoffs, founders cutting salaries—they don't happen in a vacuum, David.
David
Absolutely not, Ema. This all comes at what's been described as a 'particularly bumpy time' for the studio. It makes you wonder what other factors led to these decisions, and what kind of 'bumpy time' they're really talking about, um, beyond just resource redirection.
Ema
Exactly. It's a complex situation, and it definitely suggests there's more to this story than just a simple restructuring. We'll delve into those underlying issues and controversies that have been swirling around the studio and the game itself, giving us a fuller picture.
David
Before we dive deeper into those bumps, Ema, let's set the stage. For listeners who might not be familiar, can you tell us a bit about 1047 Games as a studio and what Splitgate is? I know some of our listeners might even be confused about 'Splitgate 2' versus the original.
Ema
That's a great point, David. So, 1047 Games was founded in 2017 by Ian Proulx and Nicholas Bagamian, actually in their Stanford dorm room. Their big mission was to create innovative multiplayer games, and they really hit it big with their flagship title, Splitgate.
David
Ah, yes, Splitgate! The free-to-play first-person shooter that garnered a lot of attention, right? I remember the buzz around its unique mechanics. It was quite a refreshing take on the genre.
Ema
Exactly! Its claim to fame is its blend of classic arena shooter gameplay with portal mechanics, almost like a mix of Halo and Portal. Players could create portals to outmaneuver opponents, leading to some incredibly creative and fast-paced gameplay. It gained millions of downloads.
David
So, the confusion about 'Splitgate 2' that we mentioned, um, what's the real story there? Because the news text refers to 'Splitgate 2,' but the background information suggests a different reality.
Ema
Right, that's a crucial clarification. While the news articles might use 'Splitgate 2,' the information we have indicates there's no officially announced or released game called 'Splitgate 2' with these specific issues. The controversies and challenges are actually associated with the *original* Splitgate and 1047 Games' strategic shift.
David
That's really important for our listeners to understand. So, all these events—the layoffs, the controversies—they're tied to the original game's development and the studio's broader plans, not a direct sequel called 'Splitgate 2,' um, as some might assume.
Ema
Precisely. In fact, in September 2022, 1047 Games announced they were *ending* feature development for the original Splitgate to focus on a *new game* in the Splitgate universe, built using Unreal Engine 5. The recent layoffs were a consequence of this shift, managing resources for this unannounced new project.
David
That makes a lot more sense now. It's a pivot, not a direct sequel facing these issues. Now, moving on to the 'bumpy time' you mentioned earlier, a significant event was at Summer Game Fest. Ema, for those unfamiliar, what exactly is Summer Game Fest?
Ema
Summer Game Fest is a huge annual video game event, organized and hosted by gaming journalist Geoff Keighley. It started in 2020 as a response to E3's cancellation due to COVID, and it's basically become the go-to summer showcase for major game announcements and reveals.
David
So, it's essentially a big stage where developers and publishers show off their upcoming titles, right? Like a virtual E3, but with its own distinct flavor.
Ema
Exactly. It's multi-streamed, with a big 'main show' featuring trailers and announcements. It’s a prime spot for a studio like 1047 Games to generate buzz. But, um, this year, it generated a different kind of buzz for them.
David
And that leads us to the 'Make FPS Games Great Again Hat' incident. Before we dive into the controversy itself, can you give us some context on the original 'Make America Great Again' slogan and why it's so politically charged?
Ema
Of course. 'Make America Great Again,' or 'MAGA,' is a political slogan popularized by Donald Trump. It became really iconic during his presidential campaigns. It's seen as representing American exceptionalism and a romanticized past, but it's also been called a loaded phrase, even racist by some, um, due to its perceived exclusionary nature and association with certain political movements.
David
So, it's not just a slogan; it carries significant cultural and political weight. Understanding that context is crucial for what happened next with 1047 Games, right?
Ema
Exactly. Because when Ian Proulx, the co-founder, showed up on stage at Summer Game Fest wearing a 'Make FPS Games Great Again Hat,' it was immediately seen as an obvious riff on those MAGA hats. And that's where the 'conflict' really begins.
David
Alright, Ema, let's get into the heart of the conflict. So, Ian Proulx is on stage at Summer Game Fest, a massive platform, and he's wearing this 'Make FPS Games Great Again' hat. What was the immediate reaction, um, and why was it such a problem?
Ema
The reaction was swift and largely negative, David. Because of the direct visual and linguistic reference to the MAGA slogan, many perceived it as a political statement, aligning the studio with controversial politics. It immediately 'dampened the otherwise good buzz' Splitgate had generated up to that point.
David
So, even if the intention was to comment on the state of FPS games, the execution backfired spectacularly due to the strong association with real-world politics, um, creating division instead of excitement.
Ema
Exactly. Proulx initially defended his stance, saying it was a meme and a critique of the FPS genre, even citing Hideo Kojima's 'Make TV Great Again' hat as precedent. But the community's perception was that it caused division, and he later issued an apology, acknowledging the negative impact.
David
That's a classic example of intent versus impact, right? And this wasn't the only controversy hitting them that week. What else was stirring up trouble for 1047 Games?
Ema
In that very same week, Splitgate's expensive microtransactions came under intense fire. Players were looking at bundles costing as much as $145, initially discounted to $80 at launch. For a free-to-play game, that's just, um, an incredibly steep price point for cosmetic items.
David
Wow, $145 for a cosmetic bundle? That's almost the price of a full-price AAA game, or even more. That must have infuriated the community, especially when the game itself is free to play.
Ema
It did. The backlash was immediate and severe. 1047 Games responded pretty quickly though. They slashed some of those prices in half, bringing that $80 bundle down to $40, and promised partial refunds to anyone who had already bought them.
David
So, they tried to rectify it, which is good, but the damage was likely already done in terms of first impressions, right? And Proulx even commented on this, um, blaming a former head of monetization.
Ema
Exactly. He admitted that 'basically everything' in the store was overpriced until recently, attributing it to a former head of monetization who was 'very aggressive on the pricing' and had worked on Call of Duty. This admission, um, raised questions about internal oversight.
David
That's a bold move, publicly blaming a former employee. It sounds like they were scrambling to manage the fallout. And then there was the direct criticism of Call of Duty, right?
Ema
Yes, Proulx publicly stated he was 'tired of playing the same Call of Duty every year.' While it resonated with some, it also drew criticism from fans and even other developers, um, for disparaging a major franchise while Splitgate itself shared some similarities.
David
And there was a controversial tweet from the official Splitgate account too, wasn't there? That must have added fuel to the fire.
Ema
Absolutely. A tweet disparaging a Call of Duty developer was posted and then quickly deleted. Proulx apologized for it, clarifying he wasn't the one who posted it, but it further inflamed tensions. It was a perfect storm of missteps, um, all within a very short period.
David
So, Ema, with all these controversies—the hat incident, the microtransactions, the Call of Duty comments—what was the immediate and ongoing impact on Splitgate and 1047 Games? How did it affect their standing with players?
Ema
The impact was significant, David. That 'good buzz' they had leading up to Summer Game Fest was definitely 'dampened.' The hat incident created a huge division within the community, turning what should have been a celebration of their game into a political debate.
David
And the microtransaction issue, um, I imagine that hit where it hurts most for players: their wallets. What was the tangible result of that on the game's perception?
Ema
Exactly. Despite their quick action to slash prices and offer refunds, the initial outrage contributed directly to Splitgate's 'Mixed' rating on Steam. It's hard to shake off that first impression, especially when it involves perceived greed from a free-to-play title.
David
So, a 'Mixed' rating indicates a divided player base, which is not what any developer wants. Did these controversies also affect player numbers, um, or engagement?
Ema
Initially, Splitgate did see a significant increase in players on Steam right after its 1.0 launch and the battle royale mode announcement, but that momentum wasn't sustained. Player numbers have since returned to their previous levels, likely influenced by the negative press and community sentiment.
David
That's a crucial point. A temporary spike, but not sustained growth. And the layoffs we discussed at the top of the show, along with the co-founders foregoing salaries, um, are these directly linked to these controversies and the game's reception?
Ema
While 1047 Games stated the layoffs were about 'redirecting resources,' it's clear these actions occurred during this 'bumpy time.' They signify financial or strategic adjustments, likely influenced by the game's reception and the controversies. It suggests they're restructuring to overcome these challenges.
David
So, it's a direct consequence, um, of a challenging period for the studio. They're making tough decisions to stabilize and move forward. It really highlights how quickly public perception can impact a game's trajectory.
Ema
Exactly. The reputation of a studio and its game can be incredibly fragile. These incidents definitely created a negative perception around Splitgate's launch, even with efforts to fix things. It's a hard lesson in community management and public relations.
David
Ema, looking ahead, 1047 Games has stated they are 'committed to building this game for the long haul.' But given what we've discussed about the shift to a new game, what does that 'long haul' really look like for the Splitgate IP?
Ema
That's an excellent question, David, and it's where the nuance comes in. While they say 'long haul,' it's not about endlessly updating the original Splitgate. Their future, and the future of the Splitgate IP, is tied to this *new, unannounced game* in the Splitgate universe, built on Unreal Engine 5.
David
So, the layoffs and the co-founders foregoing salaries are essentially an investment in this new, unannounced title, um, redirecting resources to ensure its success?
Ema
Exactly. They're making strategic sacrifices now to secure the future of their intellectual property. The success of this new game will really define the next chapter for 1047 Games and the Splitgate universe.
David
That's a high-stakes gamble, but understandable. What can other game developers, um, learn from 1047 Games' recent experiences?
Ema
I think there are huge lessons here. First, understand the broader context of your messaging. A seemingly innocuous phrase can carry significant baggage. Second, pricing models for free-to-play games need to be carefully considered and, um, tested with the community before launch.
David
And perhaps, um, avoid publicly criticizing competitors, especially when you're trying to launch your own game and build a positive community around it.
Ema
Precisely. Focus on your strengths. The future for 1047 Games hinges on their ability to learn from these missteps, deliver a strong new title, and rebuild trust with their dedicated player base. It's a challenging road, but not an impossible one.
David
Ema, that was an incredibly insightful look into the turbulent times at 1047 Games. From the difficult layoffs and co-founders' sacrifices to the very public controversies, it's clear they're navigating a complex period while pivoting towards a new project in the Splitgate universe.
Ema
It certainly is, David. It's a reminder that game development isn't just about code and graphics; it's also about managing community, public perception, and tough business decisions.
David
Exactly. A huge thank you to Ema for breaking down such a nuanced story for us. And to all our listeners, thank you for tuning into 'Gaming Unpacked.' We'll be back next week with more deep dives into the world of gaming. Stay curious!
