Summary
Splitgate 2surprise-dropped a Battle Royale mode upon the game’s full release, but many fans are unhappy with the pricey microtransactions that came with it. The sequel to 1047 Games’Halo-meets-Portalonline shooter had a lot to live up to, given the first title’s success and an increasingly crowded online FPS market, and its open beta met mixed reviews. Unfortunately forSplitgate 2,its full launch has not gone much better so far, with many criticizing its cosmetics prices.
The game’s open beta ended, ushering in the full release on Friday, June 6. 1047 Games celebrated the moment with a new trailer during Summer Game Fest,revealing a surpriseSplitgate 2battle royale modefor 60-player, 15-team matches. Despite the big reveal, the general reception that followed was likely not what the studio had expected or wanted.
Fans were quick to point out the cost of some cosmetic packs, with some bundles reaching over $140. There was some backlash to CEO Ian Proulx wearing a “Make FPS Great Again” hat and throwing shade at theCall of Dutyseries for repetitive annual releases during the Summer Game Fest, too. Some players pointed out how such actions and words felt hypocritical in light of a trend-following battle royale mode, expensive microtransactions, and perceptions of the game being “unfinished.” During the open beta,Splitgate 2suffered some server issues, and while the game’s servers are back online, some Steam reviewers have still called the title “broken” and needing additional work.
Splitgate 2 Reviews Take a Hit Following Battle Royale Mode and Expensive Microtransactions
WhileSplitgate 2reviews were already mixed through the beta, they had been trending positively leading up to the full release. Things took a turn the next day, though, with the game’s June 7 reviews being 43% positive and 57% negative at the time of writing. That makes it the first day since the open beta started thatSplitgate 2’s negative feedback has outnumbered the recommendations. A similar thing happened in April whenPath of Exile 2saw declining Steam reviewsafter the community became frustrated with high-priced cosmetics.
Microtransactions are always a touchy subject. Despite a large outcry against them, especially when they get too expensive, they’re an undoubtedly successful business model. A recent report confirmed thatmost PC gaming revenue comes from microtransactions, with spending on these in-game purchases totaling $24.4 billion in 2024 alone. As a free-to-play title, the presence of paid cosmetics inSplitgate 2is not surprising, but the cost of these bundles, alongside controversy about the way the studio has presented the game, seems to have hurt it, at least for now.
