Splitgate 2developer 1047 Games has revealed that it has made a series of job cuts. This comes just two weeks after the launch of Splitgate 2, and suggests that the game is not performing as well as projected.
On top of this, 1047 co-founders Ian Proulx and Nicholas Bagamian say that they will not take a salary, as post-launch development of Splitgate 2 continues. The studio says that it is still “committed to building” the game going forward, despite the layoffs.
Splitgate 2 Devs Laid Off Two Weeks After Launch
“Today we parted ways with a small group of valued 1047 Games team members,” reads a statement put on the company’sLinkedIn page. “We are sad to see our teammates go, and we are actively working to help them secure new opportunities. Further, our co-founders Ian Proulx and Nicholas Bagamian have opted not to take salaries as we lock in to deliver the next phase of the project.”
1047 is vague on why this was done, saying that the studio is “redirecting resources” so it can improve Splitgate 2. There is no mention of the poor launch of the game, but we already know that it’sstruggling to pick up players on Steam.
That’s not to even mention the controversy. Whilepromoting the game at Summer Games Fest, 1047 CEO Ian Proulx made a jab against Call of Duty and wore a hat reading, “Make FPS Great Again”. This either set expectations very high for Splitgate 2, or opened Proulx himself up to criticism, as many felt that the play on the MAGA hat was in poor taste.Proulx has apologised for this, saying that the hat was meant to get attention, not be taken as a political statement.
Then, there was thedebacle with the $80 cosmetic bundle.The price has since been halved, but it certainly burned away some goodwill amongst the playerbase, and at a time whenSplitgate 2 already had mixed reviews on Steam.
We will have to see what’s next for Splitgate 2 and where 1047 takes it post-launch. In the meantime, we can only hope that those who were laid off are able to land on their feet elsewhere.
