1047 Games, the studio behind the hit arena shooter Splitgate, has officially announced its next major project: Empulse. Described as a "Titanfall-inspired movement shooter," the new title is slated to enter early access later this year.
While the studio continues to support Splitgate—specifically Splitgate: Arena Reloaded, which launched in December 2025—CEO Ian Proulx has confirmed that Empulse is now the company's "main priority."
High-Octane Mechanics Inspired by Titanfall 2 and SSX
The core design philosophy of Empulse draws heavily from the best movement shooters in gaming history. According to Proulx, the team conducted a deep dive into titles like Titanfall 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, and other high-mobility entries in the Call of Duty franchise.
However, the inspiration doesn't stop at traditional shooters. The developers also looked to non-shooting games to define the game's flow state.
"Do you remember SSX Tricky? One of the things we took inspiration from there was that feeling of, like, you're in that flow state. You're wall running, you're grappling, you're sliding, and then you're bouncing off these jumps."
This influence aims to create a gameplay loop that feels less like a standard jump-pad shooter and more like a dynamic snowboard run. Key mechanics include:
- Wall-running across vertical surfaces.
- Grappling to traverse large gaps.
- Sliding to maintain momentum.
- Chain-jumping off custom bounce pads that mimic snowboard kickers.
Portal-Inspired Tech Meets Fast-Paced Combat
Despite the shift toward Titanfall-style mobility, Empulse retains the unique "Portal-y" roots that defined the studio's previous work. The game features P.A.I.N.T. Bombs (Plasma Activated Infusion of NanoTech), which function similarly to the pro- and repulsion gels from Portal 2.
These gels provide players with significant speed boosts or jump enhancements. By chaining these effects together, players can create highly mobile combat scenarios where standing still is virtually impossible. Proulx described the result as a "really freaking fun" experience that rewards spatial awareness and quick reflexes.
The inclusion of wall-running is a direct response to community feedback. Proulx noted that the studio had prototypes for wall-running in early 2025 but scrapped them for Splitgate because the maps weren't designed for it.
"We have a lot of Titanfall fans in the company. We've seen it even in our community. A lot of people have asked for wall-running over the years, actually."
For Empulse, the maps are built specifically to support this high-mobility gameplay, ensuring that every mechanic serves the core loop.
Learning from Splitgate 2’s Launch
The announcement comes against the backdrop of Splitgate 2’s tumultuous launch. The second main installment released last June to mixed reviews and a rapid player drop-off due to community criticism. In response, 1047 Games "unlaunched" the title, temporarily winding down support to implement "big, sweeping changes."
The game was eventually relaunched as a free-to-play title across PC, Xbox, and PlayStation. Proulx is candid about the lessons learned from that experience, admitting that the studio was guilty of chasing trends rather than listening to player requests.
"If I look at live-service games that haven't done well, there's a million reasons, right? It's such a difficult industry. I think one of the reasons that certain games haven't done well is chasing trends, instead of trying to provide something players are asking for."
With Empulse, the studio is taking a different approach. Rather than trying to build the next Fortnite or Call of Duty, the goal is to deliver a game that the community has explicitly asked for.
"I think we had our own unique take on things, but I think this time around it's: let's just make this type of game... We think this is a game that players are asking for."
As Empulse heads toward its early access launch, it will be interesting to see how 1047 Games balances the high-speed mobility of Titanfall with the strategic portal mechanics that made Splitgate a standout in the arena shooter genre.
