Released in early access in May 2019,Splitgatehad an interesting career. While its early access period was met with a lukewarm reception, Indie studio 1047 Games decided to continue with the game’s development regardless, and upon the game’s Beta launch in July 2021, it finally found its player-base. During those initial Beta months,Splitgatewas hitting above 50,000 daily players on Steam alone, which is no small feat for an Indie shooter.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing forSplitgate. Just a few months after its Beta launch,Splitgate’s player-base dropped dramatically to under 5,000 players, and by 2023, that number had dropped below the 1,000 mark. But around the same time, 1047 Games announced that a sequel was in the works, and that sequel has finally been revealed. SimplytitledSplitgate 2, the long-awaited sequel is currently set to launch in 2025.Splitgate 2will debut with some pretty big changes to the formula, with one of the biggest being its Faction system.
Splitgate 2’s Faction System Explained
Based on its announcement trailer and accompanying press release,Splitgate 2is going to be building upon the strong foundations laid by its predecessor in a few significant ways. One of these ways is the game’s new Faction system. According to the game’sSteam pageand official website,Splitgate 2will feature three distinct Factions – Aeros, Meridian, and Sabrask – each of which will seemingly grant the player a few special abilities. The official description of these Factions mentions that Aeros will grant the player some agility, Meridian will give the player some time-manipulation powers, and Sabrask will allow the player to “run in guns blazing.”
Though the brief official description of these three Factions is rather unclear,Splitgate 2’s announcement trailerdoes provide a few hints of what players can expect from the game’s new Faction system. Based on the trailer, it seems as thoughSplitgate 2’s Meridian Faction will allow players to see through walls and throw out a device that freezes opponents in place. The Aeros Faction seems to have some kind of throwable boomerang weapon and can seemingly place a portal directly in front of them without needing to place it on a specific surface. And finally, the Sabrask Faction seems to have a deployable cover ability.
Splitgate 2’s Faction System Could Be a Double-Edged Sword
Splitgate 2’s Faction System Is a Solid Evolution of the Formula
When the firstSplitgatelaunched its Beta in 2021, it found an audience by offering a niche that few other games provided. It had been a long time since the lastHalorelease, and fans were desperate for an innovative arena shooter experience. But whenHalo Infinitecame out,Splitgatefell to the wayside. Rather than just release the same game again but with shinierUnreal Engine 5 graphics, developer 1047 is trying to evolve the formula withSplitgate 2, and this Faction system could add some much-needed depth to the series' arena shooter gameplay.
Splitgate 2 Already Has a Lot of Competition
However,Splitgate 2’s Faction system is already stirring up some controversy. By adding distinct abilities to the sequel,Splitgate 2has been compared to hero shooters likeOverwatch. WhileSplitgate 2’s developers have stated that the sequel is not a hero shooter, the final product could still end up in the same boat as the rest of the genre, and it’s a rather busy time for it. By the timeSplitgate 2releases next year, it might need to contend withOverwatch 2,FragPunk,Concord,The Finals, andMarvel Rivals, which will be no easy feat.
Splitgate 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Portal into the action as an elite Ace in Splitgate 2, the only free-to-play shooter where you can teleport across the map to outsmart your opponents. Team up, customize weapons, and master portaling skills as you compete for glory in epic showdowns.Evolution Is Here - This is the future of Splitgate, bringing fast-paced portal gunplay with objective-based game modes, distinctive new maps, and a wild collection of weapons.Win From Any Angle - Dominate the competition with the ultimate tool: a portal gun. Flank your foes and turn the tide of combat by portaling across the map, or defy gravity to launch yourself for jaw-dropping aerial kills.Team Up and Earn Glory - Recruit your friends and compete for the respect of the entire galaxy. Take control of the Hotzone while your friends hold off enemies portaling in from all sides. Stand together and steamroll your opponents to win the match and claim victory.Multi-Team Mayhem - Take the action to the next level with the first of our upcoming Multi-Team-Mayhem modes, where 24 players compete in all-out warfare across a massive new map. Chaotic fun is guaranteed.
