1047 Games has announced a major gameplay update for Splitgate Arena Reloaded, revealing a new battle royale inspired mode titled Arena Royale that the studio hopes will re energize interest in the struggling multiplayer shooter. Splitgate Arena Reloaded is the rebranded identity of Splitgate 2, a name that surfaced following the poorly received sequel and a broader restructuring that also included the shutdown of the original Splitgate servers. The updated title is positioned as a fusion of the strongest elements from both iterations of the franchise, with Arena Royale described by the development team as an attempt to merge the intensity of an arena shooter with the large scale format of a battle royale.
According to 1047 Games design director Josh Watson, the concept behind Arena Royale was shaped by long standing frustrations with existing battle royale conventions. Watson explained that the team deliberately moved away from mechanics that slow down gameplay and limit engagement. He noted that many popular battle royale titles include extended periods where players are focused on looting or traversing empty areas rather than engaging in combat. Arena shooters, by contrast, prioritize constant action and rapid encounters. Arena Royale is designed around the idea of less looting and more shooting, maintaining the technical structure of a battle royale while emphasizing fast paced combat and immediate player involvement. Watson described the mode as an attempt to retain the tension of last team standing gameplay without sacrificing the high frequency firefights that define arena shooters.
Arena Royale also introduces structural changes that distinguish it from traditional battle royale formats. Players will not drop into matches from an aircraft. Instead, they are placed in a pre match lobby where they vote on one of four available maps by physically standing in front of their preferred option. Once the match begins, players spawn instantly and enter combat without extended downtime. The available biomes include Drought, Glacier, Fracture, and Outskirts, with Outskirts being an entirely new environment created for this mode. The design of these maps is intended to support constant engagements rather than prolonged exploration. Additional changes include instant chest opening, immediate loot drops when a player is eliminated, and the removal of deathboxes. Matches are limited to 24 players divided into six teams of four, a reduced player count aimed at keeping encounters frequent and concentrated.
Further reinforcing the arena focused approach, Arena Royale removes buy stations entirely. Instead, players can upgrade their equipment dynamically using currency earned through dealing damage, securing eliminations, and completing in match events such as Split Ball, Firecracker, and Hot Zone. These systems are designed to reward aggressive play and consistent participation rather than passive survival. The update arrives at a critical moment for Splitgate Arena Reloaded, which has struggled to attract attention since its relaunch. The return of the franchise passed largely unnoticed, and public discussion around low concurrent player numbers on Steam failed to generate a meaningful increase in activity. While Steam data does not represent the full player base across platforms, it remains a visible indicator of limited traction. Arena Royale, launching as part of update 2.2 on Thursday, January 22, 2026, represents a significant effort by 1047 Games to redefine the game’s identity and recapture momentum across PC and console platforms.
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