Splitgate Developer's Titanfall-Inspired Shooter *Empulse* Appears on Steam, and Fans Are Skeptical

On a quiet Tuesday, a Steam page for Empulse appeared without fanfare—a 6v6 movement shooter from the studio behind Splitgate. But for 1047 Games, the leak couldn't have come at a worse time. After a turbulent 2025 marked by layoffs, a controversial CEO moment, and a struggling Splitgate 2 relaunch, the early reaction to this Titanfall-inspired project suggests the path back to players' good graces will be steep.

Empulse: A Titanfall Love Letter with a Twist

Empulse is set in the city of Freehold, a sprawling urban environment designed for high-octane vertical combat. At its core, the game offers a 6v6 "movement shooter" experience that will feel immediately familiar to fans of Respawn Entertainment's Titanfall series. Players can wallrun, slide, and use grappling hooks to traverse the map, while a device called the "Holojump" adds a tactical dimension by allowing for short-range teleportation.

On the ground, players are armed with P.A.I.N.T. bombs—area-denial tools that can control chokepoints and flush enemies out of cover. But the real draw is the mechs. Two unique mechs spawn on the map during matches, each with distinct armaments and abilities. Teams can coordinate to pilot these behemoths, or alternatively, work together to destroy them, creating dynamic power shifts that echo Titanfall's signature titan gameplay loop.

"Early access is planned for 2026, with sign-ups available now," a 1047 Games representative confirmed. No specific release date has been announced, but the studio is inviting players to register for testing on the official Empulse website.

The Studio's Rocky 2025 – Layoffs, a Controversial Hat, and a Failed Relaunch

To understand the skepticism surrounding Empulse, one must first examine 1047 Games' recent history. The studio faced significant financial strain in 2025, resulting in layoffs and founders cutting their own salaries in an attempt to stabilize operations. Then came the Summer Game Fest 2025 incident—CEO Ian Proulx sparked widespread backlash by wearing a "Make FPS Great Again" hat during the showcase. "It felt like they were mocking the very players they needed to win back," wrote one user on the Splitgate subreddit at the time. Proulx later issued an apology, but the damage to the studio's reputation was already done.

The fallout from that moment compounded an already difficult year for Splitgate 2. Originally launched with high hopes, the game was rolled back into beta in July 2025 after failing to meet expectations. It was relaunched in December as Splitgate: Arena Reloaded, but the numbers tell a sobering story: the game peaked at only 2,297 concurrent players on Steam and has struggled to maintain even that modest audience.

Many fans now cite both the hat incident and the poor Splitgate 2 reception as reasons for distrust. "I want to believe they can make something great again, but they've burned too much goodwill," wrote one user on the Splitgate subreddit.

Community Reaction – Skepticism, Derivative Accusations, and a Defense from the Studio

The early community response to Empulse has been measured at best, openly skeptical at worst. On Reddit and other forums, users are questioning the Titanfall-inspired marketing, noting that wall-running and sliding are no longer innovative mechanics in the FPS space. "We've seen this before. What makes Empulse different from The Finals or Apex Legends?" asked one commenter.

Critics argue that Empulse risks being derivative, especially given the studio's limited track record with original mechanics beyond portals—Splitgate's signature feature. "1047 made their name with portals. Now they're chasing Titanfall. It feels like they don't know what they want to be," observed another user.

But not all reactions are negative. Some fans remain cautiously optimistic, pointing to the studio's history of iterating on feedback. "If they can nail the mech gameplay and learn from Splitgate 2's mistakes, this could be something special," wrote one user on Twitter. "But they need to prove it, not just promise it."

1047 Games acknowledged the leak in a statement, expressing disappointment that the game appeared on Steam before its intended reveal. "We wanted to introduce Empulse on our own terms," the studio said, "but early feedback matters more than a perfect reveal." They also defended Splitgate: Arena Reloaded's Steam numbers, arguing that the platform's data doesn't capture the full community experience—a claim that may do little to sway skeptical players.

Can Empulse Succeed Where Splitgate 2 Failed?

The movement shooter genre is a crowded battlefield. Apex Legends continues to dominate, Titanfall 2 has experienced a resurgence thanks to renewed interest, and The Finals has carved out its own niche with destructible environments. For Empulse to stand out, it will need a strong hook—something beyond wallrunning and mechs that feels distinctly its own.

1047 Games has a chance to regain trust by delivering a polished early access experience and maintaining transparent communication—two areas where the studio has struggled in the past. The mech-on-foot dynamic could be a differentiator, but only if it's balanced and fun. Titanfall comparisons will be inevitable and punishing; any misstep will be amplified by a community already primed for disappointment.

The studio has not disclosed funding sources for Empulse, nor has it outlined a clear development roadmap beyond the 2026 early access window. This lack of transparency raises questions about the project's long-term viability, especially given 1047 Games' recent financial struggles.

The 2026 release window gives the studio time to iterate, test, and refine. But it also means Empulse will launch in a post-Splitgate 2 landscape where goodwill is low and expectations are high. The game's success will depend not just on its gameplay, but on whether 1047 Games can prove it has learned from its mistakes and can deliver a polished, respectful experience.

Empulse has the mechanical ingredients to be a compelling movement shooter. But in a genre built on trust, 1047 Games' biggest battle may be convincing players to even pick up the controller.