Splitgate saw an explosion of popularity in 2021, and though it earned more than a few fans with its “Halo meets Portal” elevator pitch, the multiplayer shooter was obviously no on the same level as other, major multiplayer shooters on the market. That was something that developer 1047 Games, too, was seemingly keenly aware of, with the studio emphasizing that the recently-announced Splitgate 2 is a full-fledged AAA production.
Writing on Xbox Wire, 1047 Games’ head of marketing Hilary Goldstein said that one of the development team’s primary goals was to ensure that Splitgate 2, unlike its predecessor, is a full-fledged AAA experience.
“How do you follow up a viral hit? Just make everything better,” Goldstein wrote. “That, at least, has been our intent from the start of the development of Splitgate 2. At its core, Splitgate is a fun game that’s hard to put down, but we knew it was a long way from a true AAA experience. That’s been our focus the past two years – make something that can stand toe-to-toe with the greatest shooters around.”
Goldstein went on to reveal that in order to bring its vision for Splitgate 2 to life, the studio expanded significantly, recruiting veteran talent from developers and companies such as 343 Industries, Riot Games, Activision Blizzard, and more.
“We wanted an experience that was challenging, but also approachable, where you could make meaningful choices before ever stepping in the arena,” Goldstein wrote. “And, of course, we wanted it to look amazing.
“To make that a reality, we had to hire a killer crew of veteran developers to up our capabilities. I’m lucky to work with people who’ve made some of my favorite games, including developers from Riot, 343i, and Activision Blizzard. We needed all that talent to make sure Splitgate 2 wasn’t a ‘1.5’ but a true sequel. One that could satisfy the itch for something new and exciting from both our current fanbase and many more new players.”
1047 Games has also revealed to IGN that over the course of Splitgate 2’s development, it has expanded from a team of around 20 people to over 170 employees, including developers who have worked on the likes of Call of Duty and God of War, among others.
Splitgate 2 launches in 2025 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC. 1047 Games has confirmed that it will be playable at Gamescom.