Few multiplayer games get a true second chance. SPLITGATE: Arena Reloaded might be one of them.
During the PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted showcase, Nevada-based studio 1047 Games announced that it is effectively rebooting Splitgate 2 under a new name and design philosophy. The relaunch follows a turbulent year in which Splitgate 2’s summer debut was met with backlash over aggressive microtransactions, grindy progression and a move away from the tight arena formula that made the original Splitgate a cult hit.
According to the studio’s new announcement and accompanying press coverage, Arena Reloaded aims to “combine the best of Splitgate 1 and 2.” That means doubling down on the game’s signature hook—fast, Halo-style shooting blended with Portal-like teleportation mechanics—while cutting features that players felt diluted the experience. Factions, hero-style abilities and some extra equipment are being removed, replaced with classic, even-starts playlists where success comes from map knowledge and aim rather than loadout advantages.
Under design director Josh Watson, formerly of Rocket League, 1047 says it rebuilt core combat, progression and ranked play after months of public test sessions. Players can expect five new maps, six heavily reworked arenas, several new primary weapons and a new power weapon, the Railgun. Modes will range from traditional Team Deathmatch and King of the Hill to party playlists like Gun Game and Shotty Snipers, plus a “true Classic Arena” option for purists.
Monetization is also getting a reset. The in-game store’s prices are being lowered, the battle pass simplified, and cosmetics redesigned after community feedback that the previous system felt both expensive and out of step with the series’ clean sci-fi style. Developers say they want players to feel that purchases are optional flourishes, not mandatory upgrades.
Perhaps most importantly, Arena Reloaded will remain free-to-play when it launches on December 17, 2025, hitting PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S simultaneously. The relaunch comes after an extended beta period in which the team openly shared development roadmaps and internal retrospectives—a transparency push meant to rebuild trust after layoffs and earlier controversy.
Whether players will embrace the reboot is an open question, but early reactions from arena-shooter fans suggest cautious optimism. If 1047 delivers on its promise of “no heroes, no abilities, no limits,” SPLITGATE: Arena Reloaded could transform one of 2025’s most divisive shooters into a comeback story.