1047 Games has announced it is ceasing active development on two of its titles, Empulse and Splitgate: Arena Reloaded. The studio will transition both games to peer-to-peer hosting, marking a significant strategic departure from the live service shooter model that has defined its operations for the past decade.
The announcement signals a major operational pivot for the Washington-based developer, which first gained prominence with the original Splitgate title. According to the company, active server support and major content updates for both games will conclude as it shifts its internal focus and resources toward new projects.
Transition to Peer-to-Peer Hosting
Effective immediately, Empulse and Splitgate: Arena Reloaded will no longer receive dedicated server support from 1047 Games. Instead, the studio will rely on peer-to-peer network architecture, where player-hosted sessions will keep the games operational for existing communities.
This move ensures that the titles remain playable in the near term, though players may experience changes in connection stability and matchmaking functionality compared to the current dedicated server infrastructure. The company has not specified a definitive timeline for the full implementation of this technical transition.
Shift Away from Live Service Model
The decision reflects a broader corporate refocus away from the live service shooter genre. 1047 Games stated that after ten years of operating persistent online shooters, the studio is moving toward a development strategy that does not require ongoing server maintenance and continuous content generation.
This announcement follows the company’s previous efforts to establish a foothold in the competitive shooter space. The original Splitgate achieved notable player traction, yet the studio faced significant challenges in retaining a long-term audience against larger competitors in the genre. The transition away from live services suggests a response to the high operational costs and intense market competition associated with this segment.
Implications for the Player Community
For the existing player bases of Empulse and Splitgate: Arena Reloaded, the change means the end of seasonal updates, balance patches, and official esports support. Community-run servers will become the primary method for continued gameplay, although the longevity of these communities remains uncertain without developer backing.
The company has not announced whether layoffs or internal restructuring will accompany this strategic change. No official statements have been released regarding the impact on current staff levels or the allocation of developers to future projects.
Future Development Pipeline
While 1047 Games has not disclosed specific details about its next projects, the organization has confirmed its intention to explore development models that are not reliant on continuous server operations. The studio’s future roadmap appears focused on single-player or smaller-scale multiplayer experiences that do not carry the same infrastructure burden as live service titles.
Industry observers note that the move may reflect a wider trend among mid-sized studios reevaluating the sustainability of the live service model. As player acquisition costs rise and retention becomes increasingly difficult in saturated markets, shorter term development cycles are gaining traction as a viable alternative.
Looking ahead, players can expect the peer-to-peer transition to take effect in the coming months. 1047 Games has indicated that further announcements regarding its future project lineup will be made in due course, though no official release dates or project names have been confirmed.
Source: GamesIndustry.biz
