1047 Games Pivots: The End of an Era for Empulse and Splitgate

After a decade defined by the high-octane intensity of live-service shooters, 1047 Games is signaling a radical transformation. The studio, best known for its gravity-defying arena shooters, announced this week that it is ending active development on both Empulse and Splitgate: Arena Reloaded. Effective September 3, both titles will transition away from dedicated server support, moving to a peer-to-peer (P2P) hosting model.

This move marks a definitive turning point for the developer, which has struggled to navigate the brutal economic realities of the modern live-service market. As the studio prepares to pivot toward new, as-yet-unannounced projects, the legacy of its past ten years of work is being consolidated into a player-managed ecosystem.

Main Facts: The Transition to Peer-to-Peer

The core of the announcement concerns the sustainability of 1047 Games’ current portfolio. According to the studio, the revenue generated by Empulse and Splitgate: Arena Reloaded is no longer sufficient to offset the ongoing costs of maintaining dedicated server infrastructure.

For players, the transition means that as of September 3, the centralized matchmaking services and official dedicated servers will be shuttered. However, the studio is not pulling the plug entirely. By shifting to a peer-to-peer model—a strategy previously employed for the original Splitgate—the games will remain playable. 1047 Games will implement a server browser, allowing the community to host matches independently.

As a final gesture of goodwill, Empulse is set to receive one last content update, which will include a new map and a permanent price reduction across all regions. While the shift is a practical necessity for cost-cutting, it effectively marks the end of 1047 Games’ direct involvement in the day-to-day operation of these titles.

Chronology of a Turbulent Decade

The trajectory of 1047 Games over the last ten years has been a rollercoaster of indie success and ambitious overreach.

The Splitgate Phenomenon (2015–2021)

Founded in 2015, the studio gained massive traction with the original Splitgate, a title that successfully blended arena shooter mechanics with portal-based traversal. For several years, the game was a darling of the PC and console scenes, boasting millions of players and a dedicated competitive community. Its success proved that a small team could challenge industry titans, but it also locked the studio into the high-pressure lifecycle of live-service updates.

The Splitgate 2 Controversy (2025)

The studio’s fortunes shifted sharply in June 2025 with the launch of Splitgate 2. The release was marred by immediate controversy. A marketing campaign featuring a “Make FPS Great Again” hat drew significant backlash, and a $145 cosmetic bundle was widely criticized as predatory. The combination of technical hurdles and public relations missteps cast a shadow over the game’s launch.

The "Back to Beta" and Layoff Cycles (Late 2025–2026)

The aftermath of Splitgate 2 was swift. Within a month of launch, the studio announced its first major round of layoffs. In a desperate attempt to stabilize the project, 1047 Games took the unusual step of pushing the game “back to beta” while initiating a second wave of job cuts.

The Empulse Era (2026)

Simultaneously, the studio attempted to capture the Titanfall audience with Empulse, a 6v6 movement-based shooter. Launched in early access in June 2026, the game faced an uphill battle. Market fatigue, combined with the instability of the studio’s internal operations, led to further layoffs within weeks of the title’s debut, effectively sealing its fate as a short-lived experiment.

Supporting Data and Market Realities

The decision to sunset these titles is indicative of a broader trend within the gaming industry. The "live-service bubble," which saw dozens of studios rushing to create infinitely monetizable shooters, has burst.

1047 Games’ statement that their current titles are "no longer sustainable" is a stark reminder of the high "burn rate" associated with dedicated server hosting. For a mid-sized studio, the cost of keeping servers running for a dwindling or stagnant player base can be the difference between survival and bankruptcy.

The figures are telling:

• Player Reach: Over 25 million people have played 1047 Games’ titles over the last decade.
• Infrastructure Costs: Dedicated servers require continuous financial investment, constant patching, and regional monitoring—expenses that quickly outpace income when user retention dips below a certain threshold.
• Staffing Reductions: While the exact number of employees affected by recent layoffs remains undisclosed, the studio has undergone at least two major rounds of downsizing in the last year alone, signaling a drastic reduction in operational capacity.

Official Responses: A Shift in Philosophy

Founders Ian Proulx and Nicholas Bagamian issued a candid statement on X (formerly Twitter) regarding the change. Their message focused on the evolution of their creative mission:

"We started 1047 Games ten years ago because we love video games. Since then, more than 25 million people have played our games… After ten years of focusing on live service shooters, our focus is changing. What we build next may look very different from what people expect from 1047 Games, but what has not changed is why we are here: we love making games."

The founders acknowledged the emotional toll of the decision, noting that they had hoped to keep the servers running as long as possible to give the community more time to enjoy the games. However, they concluded that the sustainability of the studio as a whole must take precedence. By decoupling themselves from the "live-service treadmill," the leadership team is clearly attempting to reset the studio’s identity.

Implications for the Future

What does the future hold for 1047 Games? The most immediate implication is that the studio is exiting the competitive arena shooter genre, at least in the short term.

The Death of the "Service" Model

By moving their games to P2P, the studio is effectively "handing the keys" to the community. This is a common exit strategy for developers who want to preserve their legacy without incurring ongoing maintenance costs. While this is great for the die-hard fans who wish to continue playing, it signals a lack of future investment. The games are now effectively "legacy products."

A Strategic Pivot

Proulx and Bagamian’s hint that future projects might look "very different" suggests a departure from the high-velocity, multiplayer-only focus that defined their early career. This could mean a shift toward single-player experiences, experimental indie titles, or perhaps a move into a different genre entirely.

Industry Resilience

The saga of 1047 Games serves as a case study for the risks of the live-service model. Even with a massive player base and a proven formula, the costs of maintaining a "forever game" can prove fatal. The studio’s ability to survive this transition will depend on whether they can leverage their technical expertise to build a project that requires less constant, high-cost server infrastructure.

For now, the community is left with a bittersweet outcome: while the era of official 1047 Games support for Empulse and Splitgate: Arena Reloaded is ending, the games themselves will live on in the hands of the players. The studio, meanwhile, moves into a period of introspection and, hopefully, a new chapter of innovation.