Splitgate: Arena Reloaded is set to return to its old strengths after a major change of direction by the developers.
Splitgate 1 was a huge success at the time – under the onslaught of fans, the surprised developers’ servers simply crashed in 2021. Expectations for the sequel were correspondingly high: Splitgate 2 was supposed to mark the next chapter in the shooter’s success.
But things turned out differently. Instead of cheers, Splitgate 2 received so much criticism from fans in the summer of 2025 that the developers reversed the launch and promised improvements.
On December 17, 2025, the arena shooter is now returning with the new title Splitgate: Arena Reloaded. And much more has changed than just the name!
“Players don’t want heroes”
As developer 1047 announced in a comprehensive dev update, the game has undergone a profound transformation:
The focus is on moving away from the hero model: hero characters, special abilities, and factions have been completely removed in favor of a traditional focus on pure gunplay and portal mechanics. The developers explain:
We have listened clearly and distinctly to the players – they don’t want heroes. They want to win a battle because they played better, not because they pressed a skill button. That’s why we’re going back to our shooter roots.
Huge list of changes
The gameplay is to be based much more closely on Splitgate 1, Halo, and Unreal Tournament and move away from the hero shooter genre. This has been well received: “Exactly the right decision,” wrote one user in response to the rework.
At the same time, the portal mechanics have been refined and expanded. The creators explain exactly how this works in a detailed blog post about the portals.
But a lot has changed beyond that, as the patch notes prove. Here are a few of the highlights:
- Refined gunplay with adjustments to TTK, sounds, and effects
- Five new maps, including some remasters from Splitgate 1
- Several new weapons and revamped loadout options
- Improved menu navigation and interfaces for clear readability
- Performance improvements and stability optimization
- Classic Arena mode without loadouts with power-ups on the map
- Revised player progression with endgame levels up to 1,000
- Fairer prices in the in-game store and revamped premium currency
What about BR? The controversial Battle Royale mode from the original Splitgate 2 has been removed from Splitgate: Arena Reloaded. According to the developers, they want to focus on building a solid foundation first. The mode is set to return in a revised form at a later date.
How much does it cost? Splitgate: Arena Reloaded is free to play and replaces the previous product, Splitgate 2, in stores such as Steam and the PlayStation Store.
Unlocked content and purchased currency will be carried over.
Will you give the shooter another chance after this 180-degree turn? Feel free to write your opinion in the comments!
