Everything you need to know about Splitgate

If you don’t want to get fragged from behind or railgunned from an unseen area of the map in a game of Splitgate, your first measure of defense is probably figuring out just what the heck Splitgate is.

Described as “Halo meets Portal,” Splitgate is a free-to-play multiplayer PvP first-person shooter from 1047 Games. Though it initially looks like a typical FPS set in a futuristic sci-fi world, the combat has a unique twist: players can open wormholes to different parts of the map and get the jump on their opponents.

After more than two years in early access for PC users, Splitgate was finally set for an official release on Tuesday for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC via Steam, with cross-play support. However, the full game has been pushed into August to allow devs time to increase server capacity, according to reports.

In other words, 1047 Games is anticipating a big spike in players for a title that has already developed a cult following.

Piqued your interest yet? Learn more about Splitgate and why it might just be the next big thing in gaming.

Find out more about Nerd Street's Summer Championships!

Can I play Splitgate now?

Yes! The open beta is still available for all platforms and includes the cross-play feature. While the servers were recently taken down to complete maintenance, online multiplayer was expected to be back up and running on Tuesday.

How does the game work?

Splitgate is a fast-paced FPS that draws influence from Halo 2 and 3. The game currently offers a selection of 11 weapons and maps to choose from, providing a fair amount of variety. Players can also use momentum to “fly” through the air.

What makes Splitgate’s gameplay truly distinct, however, is its use of portals, which players can open either to transport to different areas of the map -- potentially setting up or sneaking up on opponents -- or fire their weapon through. It gives the game a much more cerebral feel compared to a lot of other PvP shooters.

Where did Splitgate come from?

1047 Games was founded by Stanford graduates Ian Proulx -- one of the top 500 Halo players in the world, according to his bio -- and Nicholas Bagamian. The company is named for the dorm room the duo shared.

Splitgate first emerged as a prototype for Proulx’s senior project, with Bagamian later jumping on board. 1047 now boasts a full 25-person dev team as its flagship game is set to roll out.

Why was Splitgate delayed?

Splitgate exploded in popularity in the month of July, so much so that when it recently reached over 65,000 concurrent players, 1047 Games found its servers had reached capacity.

The company announced this week that it secured $10 million in funding from venture capital firm Human Fund to expand its dev team and increase server capacity, so not only should the issue be resolved, but continued support for the game can be expected.

Is Splitgate good?

Interestingly, Splitgate currently owns a modest score of 68 on Metacritic, though that’s from just four critic reviews, and complaints such as the game’s low user base are obviously outdated. On Steam, it’s been rated as “Very Positive” from nearly 20,000 reviews, with more than a quarter of those described as recent.

The game reaching 65,000 concurrent players in beta should also probably speak for itself.

Is there a competitive scene?

You better believe it. Over the weekend, the Splitgate Pro Tournament handed out a $10,000 cash prize. The game has a ranked mode, and being free-to-play and cross-platform further adds to the massive esports potential here.

When does the full game release?

For now, Splitgate is listed simply as an August release -- though with the beta remaining available to play, including with its planned launch content, this doesn’t seem like a hugely important distinction. Go play it already!

Lead image credit: 1047 Games