1047 Games announced that it will cease active development on its two flagship titles, Empulse and Splitgate: Arena Reloaded, and will move both projects to a peer‑to‑peer (P2P) hosting model. The decision marks a significant strategic pivot for the studio after a decade of concentrating on live‑service shooter experiences.
In a brief statement posted to X earlier today, the company explained that the revenue generated by the two games no longer covers the expenses associated with maintaining dedicated server infrastructure. While the studio had continued to subsidize those costs in the hopes that the titles would eventually achieve a sustainable player base, it now acknowledges that this approach has become financially untenable. "We have loved working on these games, playing them, and building them with this community, and we wish we could continue supporting them," the announcement read, underscoring the emotional attachment the developers have to their projects despite the hard business realities. Effective September 3, the dedicated servers and official matchmaking services for both Empulse and Splitgate: Arena Reloaded will be shut down.
Players will instead rely on a P2P system that uses a server browser, allowing individuals to host their own matches and discover others who are doing the same. As a parting gesture, Empulse will receive a final new map and a universal price reduction across all regions, which the studio described as the game's "final update." This transition mirrors the path taken by the original Splitgate last year. After its own dedicated servers were retired, the game shifted to a P2P framework and remains fully playable on PC and console platforms.
The move demonstrated that a community can continue to enjoy a title even after official server support ends, provided a reliable peer‑to‑peer solution is in place. The background to these changes is rooted in a turbulent period for 1047 Games. Splitgate 2 launched in June 2025 amid a wave of controversy, including the release of a politically charged "Make FPS Great Again" hat and a $145 cosmetic bundle that drew criticism from many players. Within weeks of launch, the studio announced a round of layoffs, the size of which was not disclosed.
A month later, the game was rolled back to beta status, prompting a second wave of staff reductions. Empulse, marketed as a 6‑v‑6 movement shooter and often described as a spiritual successor to Titanfall, entered early access in June 2026.
Its debut was quickly followed by multiple rounds of layoffs, reflecting the broader financial strain the company was experiencing. Co‑founders Ian Proulx and Nicholas Bagamian used the recent announcement to signal a broader shift in the studio's direction. "After ten years of focusing on live‑service shooters, our focus is changing. What we build next may look very different from what people expect from 1047 Games, but what has not changed is why we are here: we love making games," they said.
The founders highlighted that more than 25 million players have engaged with their games over the past decade, and many of those interactions have turned into lasting friendships. While the statement did not directly address the current staffing situation, it is worth noting that 1047 Games has already undergone several rounds of layoffs, the most recent occurring in July—just weeks after Empulse’s early‑access launch. It remains uncertain whether the latest development will trigger additional reductions, but the tone of the announcement suggests the studio is preparing for a period of restructuring and strategic realignment.
The move to peer‑to‑peer hosting is not without challenges. Unlike dedicated servers, which provide a stable, centrally managed environment, P2P networks depend on the quality and reliability of individual hosts.
This can lead to variations in latency, potential security concerns, and a greater reliance on community moderation. However, for smaller or waning player bases, P2P can be a cost‑effective solution that keeps a game alive without the overhead of server farms. For players of Empulse and Splitgate: Arena Reloaded, the transition means that they will need to be more proactive in finding matches.
The new server browser will replace the automated matchmaking they were accustomed to, and players may need to coordinate directly or join public lobbies hosted by others. The final map addition for Empulse and the price cut are intended to give the community a modest boost before the official support ends. Looking ahead, 1047 Games has hinted that its next venture could diverge sharply from the live‑service shooter formula that defined its first ten years. While details remain scarce, the founders’ emphasis on "learning lessons" and "loving game creation" suggests a willingness to explore new genres, platforms, or business models.
Whether this will involve smaller indie‑style projects, narrative‑driven experiences, or perhaps a return to single‑player focused titles is still unknown. In summary, 1047 Games is winding down active development on Empulse and Splitgate: Arena Reloaded, shifting both titles to a peer‑to‑peer hosting model as of September 3. The studio cites unsustainable server costs as the primary driver, and offers a final content update and price reduction for Empulse as a parting gift. The announcement also signals a broader strategic reorientation away from live‑service shooters, with the founders expressing optimism about future projects that may differ markedly from their current portfolio.
The community will now need to adapt to the new P2P system, while the studio prepares for its next chapter in game development.