1047 Games announced that it will stop active development on both Empulse and Splitgate: Arena Reloaded, opting to move the two titles to a peer‑to‑peer (P2P) networking model. The decision is part of a broader strategic pivot away from the live‑service shooter model that the studio has pursued for the past decade. 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 previously subsidised those costs in an effort to give the titles a chance to grow their player bases, it now finds that approach "no longer sustainable." "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 bittersweet nature of the move. 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 interface, allowing individuals to host their own matches and discover others’ sessions. To give the community a proper send‑off, Empulse will receive one final map addition and a universal price reduction across all regions, which the studio has dubbed the "final update." This is not the first time 1047 Games has transitioned a title to peer‑to‑peer hosting.
The original Splitgate made the same switch last year after its dedicated servers were retired, and the game remains fully playable on PC and console under the new architecture. Splitgate 2, released in June 2025, quickly became a flashpoint of controversy. The launch included a politically charged "Make FPS Great Again" hat and a $145 cosmetic bundle that sparked heated debate within the community.
Within weeks of the release, the studio announced a round of layoffs, the size of which was not disclosed. A further month later, the game was rolled back to beta status and a second wave of staff reductions was implemented. Empulse, marketed as a 6‑v‑6 movement shooter and often described as a spiritual successor to Titanfall, entered early access in June 2026.
The title’s debut was followed by several rounds of layoffs over the next few weeks, reflecting the financial strain the project placed on the company. Co‑founders Ian Proulx and Nicholas Bagamian used the announcement to signal a shift in the studio’s long‑term vision. After ten years of concentrating on live‑service shooters, they said the company’s focus is now "changing," and that future projects may look very different from anything fans have come to expect from 1047 Games.
"We started 1047 Games ten years ago because we love video games," the founders wrote. "Since then, more than 25 million people have played our games, and many of the people we've met along the way have become lifelong friends. 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. We have learned a lot over the years, and we will carry those lessons into what we build next." The statement did not provide specifics about the current staffing situation. However, 1047 Games has already undergone multiple rounds of layoffs, the most recent occurring in July, just weeks after Empulse launched.
It remains uncertain whether the latest announcement will precipitate additional reductions. Industry observers note that the shift away from dedicated server models is becoming more common among mid‑size developers who struggle to sustain the high operational costs of live‑service ecosystems.
By moving to peer‑to‑peer hosting, studios can dramatically cut ongoing expenses, but they also risk reduced matchmaking quality and increased susceptibility to cheating, issues that can affect player retention. For the existing communities of Empulse and Splitgate: Arena Reloaded, the transition means they will need to adapt to a new way of finding games.
The server browser will replace the automated matchmaking queues that many players grew accustomed to, and host‑based sessions will place more responsibility on individual players to maintain stable connections and fair play environments. Despite the challenges, the developers expressed optimism that the games will continue to thrive in a more grassroots setting.
The final map for Empulse and the price cut are intended to give players a fresh incentive to explore the game before the dedicated servers go offline. Looking ahead, 1047 Games has hinted that its next venture could depart from the shooter genre entirely, potentially exploring new mechanics, narrative‑driven experiences, or even different platforms. While fans of the studio’s previous titles may be disappointed by the end of active development on Empulse and Splitgate: Arena Reloaded, the company’s commitment to learning from its past and applying those lessons to future projects suggests a willingness to evolve and experiment.
In summary, the cessation of active development on Empulse and Splitgate: Arena Reloaded marks the end of an era for 1047 Games’ live‑service shooter portfolio. The shift to peer‑to‑peer hosting, the final content updates, and the broader strategic realignment indicate that the studio is preparing to chart a new course in the gaming landscape, one that may bring unexpected and innovative experiences to its audience.