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Tech & Science
1047 Games announces Empulse, a 6v6 movement shooter inspired by Titanfall 2 and Black Ops 3, aiming to rebuild after Splitgate 2's struggles.
1047 Games has revealed Empulse, a new 6v6 movement shooter set to enter Early Access in 2026 on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. The game is designed around fast-paced vertical combat in the post-apocalyptic city of Freehold, featuring wall-running, grapple hooks, and intense six-versus-six battles.
Empulse draws heavily from Titanfall 2 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, both known for their fluid movement systems that reward player skill. The game emphasizes tactical gameplay with mechs that spawn at fixed intervals on the map, which players compete to claim. This mechanic differs from Titanfall’s personal mech rewards and resembles the weapon pickup system seen in games like Halo.
CEO Ian Proulx highlighted the studio’s passion for movement shooters and the desire to incorporate that enthusiasm into Empulse. The game’s official screenshots provide the first glimpse of its design, although no trailer has been released yet.
1047 Games faces a significant challenge in regaining player trust after the troubled launch of Splitgate 2 in June 2025. The game’s $70 cosmetic pricing and limited features led to a rapid player drop-off, with concurrent Steam players falling below 1,000 by early 2026. Attempts to revive interest through a December 2025 rebrand to Arena Reloaded did not succeed, and the studio underwent mass layoffs during this period.
Proulx has openly addressed these setbacks, emphasizing a shift toward community co-design and studio pride with Empulse rather than focusing on blockbuster sales. This approach marks a notable change from the previous rollout strategy.
Several key details about Empulse remain unconfirmed, including its exact Early Access launch date in 2026, monetization plans, and support for cross-play or ranked modes. These unknowns are particularly relevant given the criticism Splitgate 2 faced over its cosmetic pricing model. While Empulse’s Steam page is active, regional pricing for major markets like the US and UK has yet to be announced.
With established competitors such as Valorant and Overwatch 2 dominating the 6v6 shooter space, Empulse will require more than its movement mechanics to attract and retain players. The studio’s ability to deliver a clean, well-supported launch will be crucial to its success.
