Splitgate 2 jetpacked onto gaming systems on June 6th, 2025, and since its release it has struggled to keep people playing and engaged. With a new report coming in about the marketing strategies used and how the player rate has ultimately dwindled, is Splitgate 2 dead in the water? Or is there still life in the game yet?
A recent report has revealed that Splitgate 2 developer 1047 Games, has reportedly paid over $400,000 to influencers to stream and play the game in an attempt to gain traction, and give the title some well-needed coverage. The problem with endorsing a game to be influenced leaves gaps in more profitable marketing, which in this case would have been far more beneficial, unfortunately. Marketing is the lifeblood of a successful game, and apart from the odd YouTube advert, I really didn’t see this game pushed much.
Following the same trend of lost time, the player count has fallen dramatically, with 90% leaving the title since launch, via Steam count. This is not a good sign, it’s showing again as to the failed sustainability of an actually great game. I reviewed this title and got hands on with it, and I have to say I that I personally really enjoyed it. The gameplay is actually very smooth, the combat is sleek, and how you approach battles, whether that be in the air, on the ground, or via portal, it all works with a certain fluidity that made it worth returning to.
This brings me right back to how the game has been let down in the area of future proofing. Showcasing how exciting and appealing the game is to a broader audience beyond the current spectrum of players should have been a more focused priority. Ideally, the studio should have drawn people in with more trailers and community engagement, rather than pawning off their marketing on streamers, which would have likely led to a greater initial player base. However, this has not been done, and no, this is not me slamming the title, this is me saying “PLEASE, get your act together now and get people back to the game”. At its peak, it had over 25K players, with people enjoying the game and really getting into the groove of portal shooting.
From launch, Splitgate 2 did have some growing pains in terms of technical issues with servers crashing out, and players having difficulty matchmaking and then having the game crash upon loading into a lobby. Updates to the game solved these issues, but many players refused to return to the game due to first impressions.
In recent updates, Splitgate 2 released a new ranked mode, which really amplifies the competitiveness and I for one, enjoy the challenge of beating people in a ranked match. It gives the glory of achieving a higher rank and status. Along with this, there have been weapon mastery skins added to the game so that once you have completed all the weapon’s challenges, you get a unique skin for said weapon, much like the Call of Duty games of old (man take me back to Red Tiger).
Splitgate 2 struggling to retain players and draw in a broader audience is such a sad sight to behold, as again I reviewed this game and have greatly enjoyed my time with it. I have played it by myself and with friends of mine, heck, even with my sister. We all enjoyed what the game had to offer, and it really brought that old edge of competitiveness to the forefront of my mind. I was just itching for a game like this to draw me in and take me for a nostalgic ride while sitting on the edge of my seat, nailing multi-kills and striving to reachthe top of the scoreboard. Hopefully, the game makes itself more prominent in the market and offers more to the players to keep them in the portal rather than out of it.
Did you guys manage to pick Splitgate 2 up? Moreover, what did you think of it? Let us know in the comments below and let us know what you think it could do better.
