Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
1047 Games took Splitgate 2 back to beta in July 2025 after saying it had launched too early, then relaunched the game as SPLITGATE: Arena Reloaded that December. In August 2026, the studio announced it was ending active development on Arena Reloaded and Empulse and planned to move both games from dedicated servers to peer-to-peer hosting.
Why did Splitgate 2 “unlaunch”?
Splitgate 2 launched on June 6, 2025. On July 22, co-founders Ian Proulx and Nicholas Bagamian said, “We’ve heard your feedback and we agree with you: we launched too early.” 1047 Games announced that it would take the game back to beta and rebuild major parts of the experience.
The studio described its intended direction as “Arena-first,” emphasizing movement, gunplay and portal combat. It also said the rebuild was a long-term commitment rather than a quick fix. To redirect resources to that work, 1047 Games said it would reduce certain roles. The announcement promised severance and job-placement support for affected staff but gave no number of roles affected. The July decision is what “unlaunches” refers to; it was a return-to-beta plan, not the game’s final status.
What happened to the planned 2026 rerelease?
The game returned under a different name before that anticipated 2026 rerelease. On December 17, 2025, 1047 Games announced SPLITGATE: Arena Reloaded, describing it as a free-to-play evolution of Splitgate 2 for PC and consoles.
#1 Best Overall
- Triangulation Base Game - Allplay - 2 to 8 players - 15 Minutes Play Time
At announcement, the studio said Arena Reloaded would focus on classic arena combat without factions or abilities. Its listed changes included rebuilt progression, Classic Arena mode, an overhauled ranked system, player stats and leaderboards, and new and reworked maps. These were the studio’s announced features; they should not be read as a guarantee that every feature stayed unchanged afterward.
What is the game’s current development and server status?
On August 26, 2026, 1047 Games announced that active development on Arena Reloaded and Empulse was ending. In the statement reproduced by GamingOnLinux, the studio said, “The reality is that neither game is generating enough revenue to support the ongoing cost of dedicated servers.” It planned to move both games to peer-to-peer hosting with a server browser on September 3, ending dedicated servers and matchmaking.
Rank #2
- Expand Your Strategy: Dive into tactical gameplay with Watergate by Capstone Games—offering head-to-head 2-player matches, challenging decision-making, and immersive historical mechanics that enhance competitive board games for adults and families alike.
- Quick Yet Deep: Enjoy 30–60 minutes of strategic fun as you plan moves, outmaneuver your opponent, and experience replayable gameplay designed for two players, couples, or friends seeking intellectually engaging tabletop games.
- Tactical Thinking Made Fun: Challenge your skills in this two-player strategy board game, where careful planning, calculated moves, and critical thinking create intense and rewarding gameplay for adults and family players.
- Engaging Replay Value: Each session feels unique with replayable mechanics, tactical depth, and balanced challenges, making Watergate an ideal competitive strategy board game for 2 players, couples, or adult board game enthusiasts.
- Award-Winning Design: Capstone Games delivers a thoughtfully crafted tabletop experience combining strategic choices, historical intrigue, and competitive fun—perfect for adults and families looking for immersive 2-player board games.
The available reporting does not confirm whether that hosting transition was completed on every platform. The development announcement also does not establish that the games became unavailable: ending active development and changing hosting are not the same as announcing a shutdown.
What happened to the original Splitgate?
The original Splitgate is separate from Splitgate 2 and Arena Reloaded. Its dedicated servers shut down in mid-August 2025, but 1047 Games’ official FAQ said the original game remained playable through peer-to-peer network play.
Rank #3
![DSS Games Duel: A Drinking Game [Duel Your Friends & Complete Challenges | Funny Party Card Game for Adults | Great for Pregames, Parties, 21st Birthday Gifts, Bachelorettes, College and Big Groups]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41Imwd4JLxL._SL160_.jpg)
- Duel: Duel Your Friends. Defend Your Honor. Are you ready for a game night challenge with your friends? This fun card game for adults will be your new go-to for game night, pregames, house parties, girls night, and more. Duel also makes the perfect gift for birthdays and parties of any kind!
- How to Play: Challenge someone to a duel… loser drinks. If you pull a quick draw card, challengers stand back to back, take 3 steps… first to answer wins!
- When to Play: Play during game night, parties, pregames, birthdays, bachelorette parties, on group trips and more.
- Includes: 200 cards like “Take turns naming patriotic things. First to pause loses.” and “Quick Draw: Name a place you can’t bring a kid.”
- Why Trust Us? From the creators of Who’s Most Likely To (2M+ sold)… and You Laugh You Drink (1M+ sold)
What is known about the staff cuts?
In July 2025, 1047 Games confirmed it was reducing certain roles to put resources toward the Splitgate 2 rebuild, but it did not disclose a headcount. A separate July 2026 report by Game Developer, drawing on employee farewell posts, described a further round of layoffs and quoted an employee calling it the “third wave of studio layoffs.” The reporting does not establish a reliable total number of employees affected across the cuts.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Strategic card game of deck-evolution, worker placement and resource management
- For players age 12 and up
- For 2 - 4 players
- Game plays in 1 - 2 hours
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
