1047 Games Ends Development on Empulse and Splitgate: Arena Reloaded, Shifts Away from Live Service Shooters

1047 Games, the studio behind the popular arena shooter Splitgate, has announced it is ending active development on two of its titles: Empulse and Splitgate: Arena Reloaded. The company will transition both games to peer-to-peer hosting, signaling a strategic shift away from live service shooters after ten years in the genre.

A Decade of Live Service Shooters

For the past ten years, 1047 Games has been a notable player in the free-to-play arena shooter space, with Splitgate earning a dedicated following for its unique portal-based mechanics. However, the studio now appears to be charting a new course. By moving Empulse and Splitgate: Arena Reloaded to peer-to-peer hosting, 1047 Games is effectively stepping back from the ongoing server maintenance and content updates that define live service models.

What This Means for Players

For players, the shift to peer-to-peer hosting means that dedicated servers will no longer be maintained by the developer. While this could reduce matchmaking reliability and introduce host-based advantages, it also allows the games to remain playable without ongoing server costs. The move is a pragmatic step to keep the titles accessible, even as the studio redirects its focus.

A Strategic Pivot

While 1047 Games has not detailed the reasons behind this decision, the move away from live service shooters suggests a desire to explore new projects and business models. The live service model, while popular, demands continuous investment in servers, updates, and community management. By stepping back, the studio may be positioning itself for a new direction, possibly focusing on single-player experiences or other genres.

Looking Ahead

As 1047 Games closes this chapter, the future of the studio remains unclear. The company has not announced any new projects, but this pivot indicates a willingness to evolve beyond the competitive shooter landscape that defined its first decade. For now, fans of Empulse and Splitgate: Arena Reloaded can continue to play via peer-to-peer, though the era of active development has come to an end.