The developer of free-to-player PC and console shooter Splitgate has announced plans to increase the game's server capacity and keep the immensely popular title in open beta for the foreseeable future. Splitgate's open beta was extended shortly after its release due to the game's huge success, and the game's full launch date has now been delayed indefinitely.
Splitgate has been heralded for its exciting and dynamic gameplay, with lots of players comparing the FPS to titles like Halo and Portal. The game uses player-made portals to facilitate multi-dimensional combat for a unique take on the multiplayer shooter genre. Developer 1047 Games released the game's first beta in 2019, with plans to fully launch the title in August this year. However, the success of the game has caused the studio to rethink its plans, and is instead now focusing on growing the team and the game without rushing towards its full release.
1047 Games has announced that an update will go live later today, August 18, which will increase server capacity and add the highly-requested Ranked Duos mode to Splitgate. The developer has revealed that Splitgate's initial 4,000 concurrent player count increased to "more than 175,000 in a few weeks," and the added capacity should improve stability and matching for all its players. Ian Proulx, CEO and co-founder of 1047 Games, said in a press release:
“We are focused on keeping the game stable for fans, and iterating on the game’s concurrent capacity in order to minimize player wait times. We want to do this the right way, and we want to be prepared for massive scale when we officially launch, all the while continuing to improve the beta with frequent updates, additional features, and improvements to server capacity.”
The developer has also confirmed Splitgate will "remain in open beta for the foreseeable future as the small studio continues to scale the popular arena portal shooter that has seen more than 10 million downloads in its first 30 days of open beta."
The game's meteoric rise is in player numbers is in part thanks to Splitgate's recent console release. The title launched on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 earlier this summer, allowing more players than ever to access the game. 1047 Games has previously announced that a mobile and Nintendo Switch release could be coming in the future, though the team is currently focused on improving the gameplay experience on its currently available platforms. 1047 Games has stated that full crossplay will be its goal if the game comes to more platforms in the future, and the title currently supports crossplay between console and PC.
Fans of the ever-evolving shooter have a lot to look forward to as the future of Splitgate is looking promising, with the developer confirming that regular minor upgrades and bug fixes are being rolled out daily, with more substantial content updates planned to release throughout the year. Splitgate's extended open beta will allow players to report their impressions and feedback on the game, allowing developers to improve the gameplay experience and continue to support the title. Splitgate players can expect to hear more about the game's future during gamescom 2021.