Breaking News: 1047 Games Announces Empulse
1047 Games, the studio behind the breakout hit Splitgate, has finally unveiled its next project: a 6v6 movement shooter titled Empulse. The announcement comes months after the studio teased a new title in March.
According to the game's Steam listing, Empulse is a "fast-paced 6v6 movement shooter" that places a heavy emphasis on mobility. Players will wallrun, grapple, and use Holojumps to traverse the battlefield.
Familiar Mechanics, New Name
Empulse draws clear inspiration from its predecessor. The Steam description states: "In Empulse, movement is at the core of every fight. Wallrun forwards and backwards, swing with a grapple hook, launch off Holojumps, and alter surfaces with P.A.I.N.T. bombs to gain tactical advantage."
This mirrors the traversal systems seen in Splitgate and Splitgate: Arena Reloaded, but the new title introduces a twist: player-controlled mechs. These mechs will spawn into matches, offering "heavy weapons, unique abilities, and a massive health pool" to whoever claims them.
Industry analyst Dr. Mark Johnson of Game Strategy Group noted the risk: "Empulse seems to iterate on the same formula that made Splitgate popular, but with mechs as a major differentiator. The key question is whether that's enough to recapture the audience after the stumbles of Splitgate 2."
Background: The Splitgate Saga
The original Splitgate: Arena Warfare was a surprise hit, blending portal mechanics with arena shooter combat. However, its sequel, Splitgate 2, launched to poor reception and was eventually rebranded as Splitgate: Arena Reloaded in an attempt to revive interest.
Despite improvements, the rebranded game has not regained the momentum of its predecessor. According to SteamCharts data, concurrent player counts remain far below those of the original title, putting pressure on 1047 Games to deliver a winner with Empulse.
What This Means
Empulse represents a critical moment for 1047 Games. The studio needs a hit to regain trust and market share in the competitive multiplayer shooter space. The inclusion of mechs draws inevitable comparisons to Respawn's Titanfall series, but early details suggest a more measured implementation akin to the vehicle mechanics in Highguard.
“Empulse isn't trying to be Titanfall 3,” Johnson added. “It's more like a hybrid that keeps the Splitgate DNA while adding power-ups in the form of mechs. That could be a smart pivot, but it also risks alienating fans who wanted a pure Splitgate 3.”
With Early Access planned for later this year, players can sign up for testing at playempulse.com. The game's success will likely depend on how well it balances familiarity with innovation—and whether the mech gameplay resonates with the community.