Splitgate 2 Battle Royale Players Are Frustrated By Microtransactions

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Summary

  • Splitgate 2 surprise-dropped a Battle Royale mode, but fans are upset over pricey microtransactions.
  • Fans criticized the CEO’s actions and the game’s perceived unfinished state.
  • Splitgate 2’s negative reviews outnumbered positive ones after a mixed beta reception.

In a surprising move, Splitgate 2 unveiled a Battle Royale mode at the game’s official release, but players have expressed dissatisfaction over its costly in-game transactions. The second installment from 1047 Games, which combines elements of Halo and Portal, had high expectations to meet given the success of its predecessor and the growing competitive online shooter market. Its open beta received mixed feedback, and unfortunately, its full launch has not fared much better, with many players criticizing the high prices of cosmetic items.

The open beta phase of the game concluded on June 6, leading up to its official launch on that same day. To mark this occasion, 1047 Games unveiled a fresh trailer during Summer Game Fest, announcing an unexpected Splitgate 2 battle royale mode for games involving 60 players divided into 15 teams. However, the response from the public after this reveal was probably not what the studio had anticipated or desired.

Critics swiftly highlighted the high prices of certain cosmetic packs, with some packages exceeding $140. The CEO, Ian Proulx, also drew criticism when he wore a “Make FPS Great Again” hat and criticized the Call of Duty series for its repetitive annual releases at the Summer Game Fest. Some gamers found this action and language to be contradictory, given the game’s own trend-following battle royale mode, expensive microtransactions, and perceptions that it was incomplete. During its open beta, Splitgate 2 experienced some server problems. Although the game’s servers are now operational again, some Steam reviewers still label it as “broken” and in need of further development.

Splitgate 2 Reviews Take a Hit Following Battle Royale Mode and Expensive Microtransactions

Initially, feedback for Splitgate 2 during its beta phase was mixed but leaning towards positive as the release date approached. However, a shift occurred on June 7th, with the game’s reviews being 43% positive and 57% negative at the time of writing. This marked the first day since the open beta that negative feedback surpassed recommendations for Splitgate 2. Interestingly, this pattern is reminiscent of what happened in April with Path of Exile 2, where the community grew disgruntled due to high-priced cosmetics and saw a decrease in positive Steam reviews.

Discussing microtransactions can be a sensitive topic. Many people criticize them, especially when they become too pricey. However, it’s clear that they are a profitable business strategy. A recent study found that over $24.4 billion was spent on microtransactions in PC gaming last year alone. This isn’t shocking in the case of free-to-play games like Splitgate 2, given their inclusion of paid cosmetic items. However, the high cost of these bundles, coupled with controversy over the studio’s presentation of the game, appears to have impacted its popularity for now.

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2025-06-07 18:16