1047 Games, the studio behind the once-popular portal shooter Splitgate, is once again facing significant layoffs. This marks a troubling pattern for the developer, with this latest round of job cuts occurring just three weeks after their new game, Empulse, launched into early access. The timing underscores the precarious nature of game development in a highly competitive market.
Empulse, a fast-paced, Titanfall-inspired movement shooter, made its early access debut on June 24, 2026, priced at $19.99. While its launch saw a peak of 2,860 concurrent players within three days, its daily concurrent player count has since settled to a range of 1,200 to 1,400. Interestingly, the game’s demo during Steam Next Fest in June 2026 had actually garnered more attention, peaking at 4,316 concurrent players. CEO Ian Proulx had previously stated that the early access build was developed in a relatively short timeframe, approximately ‘a year and a few months,’ suggesting a rapid development cycle under pressure.
This isn’t the first time 1047 Games has had to make difficult staffing decisions. The studio experienced previous rounds of layoffs in mid-2025. A ‘small group’ was affected in June 2025, followed by a larger reduction in July 2025, which reportedly impacted 45 individuals. These earlier cuts came in the wake of the initial launch of Splitgate 2.
Splitgate 2, which later underwent a significant rebranding to Splitgate: Arena Reloaded, first launched on June 6, 2025. Its reception was notably lackluster, with CEO Ian Proulx himself admitting the game was released ’too early.’ This led to the unusual decision to ‘unlaunch’ the game, returning it to a beta state in July 2025. To further manage costs, the servers for the original, highly successful Splitgate were also shut down in July 2025. Splitgate: Arena Reloaded eventually relaunched on December 17, 2025, but has since struggled to regain traction. It currently maintains an average daily concurrent player count of roughly 250 on Steam, a stark contrast to the original Splitgate’s peak of 67,724 concurrent players in August 2021. This dramatic decline highlights the challenges of sustaining player interest and evolving a beloved franchise.
News of these most recent layoffs spread through employees’ posts on LinkedIn, rather than an official statement from the company. Max McCoy, a principal technical sound designer who contributed to both Splitgate: Arena Reloaded and Empulse, publicly confirmed his layoff, noting it was his second such experience in under two years. This personal account underscores the human impact of these industry shifts. As of now, 1047 Games has remained silent on this latest round of job cuts, leaving many to speculate about the studio’s future and its ability to navigate the volatile gaming landscape.
The broader gaming industry continues to grapple with immense volatility. Studios frequently attempt to pivot and innovate, but success is never guaranteed. When games fail to connect with players or meet commercial expectations, the unfortunate consequence often involves job losses. The market is increasingly saturated with new titles, and player expectations are higher than ever, making it an exceptionally tough business for developers to thrive in. This ongoing situation at 1047 Games serves as a poignant reminder of the inherent risks and pressures within the competitive world of game development.