Forget the new Call of Duty game, forget Marathon, forget even Battlefield 6 – Splitgate 2 is the multiplayer FPS game I’ve been the most hyped for. The first game’s blend of Halo and Portal was amazing, but despite the great gameplay, it didn’t have the infrastructure or content stream to go the distance. Splitgate 2 is looking to change that, and today sees the start of its open beta which contains almost everything you’re going to get in the full game later this year. Plus, the Splitgate 2 open beta has no end date, and all your progress will carry over when 1.0 arrives.
Having tried Splitgate 2 out during its last playtest, I already know that it’s delivering once again in the gameplay department. Now realized in Unreal Engine 5, the movement and visuals are much better than the original game, while the Halo-esque gunplay remains. Not only is portaling still a core mechanic in the FPS game – one that has a very high skill ceiling, at that – but class-based abilities add yet another strategic layer.
Fully aware that the live service space is a tough nut to crack, developer 1047 Games is arming Splitgate 2 with a boatload of game modes and maps, and most of the launch lineup is on show in the open beta. From traditional arena shooter classics, to massive 24-player Onslaught modes, there are a lot of options. The same is true for the maps you play on – the open beta adds several new battlegrounds across all available game modes. You’ll also be able to wield a new power weapon, the Borealis, which is a chargeable carbine rifle.
A small open beta battle pass is on offer up until the Splitgate 2 release date, and in what I think is a really nice touch and a fun incentive to play as much as possible, you can hunt for 1047 Games developers who are also partaking in the beta. They’ll be wearing dev-exclusive ‘flaming disco ball’ skins, so will stand out from the crowd, and if you kill one of them during a match, you will earn your own free skin to commemorate the moment.
The standout addition in the open beta, however, is The Lab – an extensive, Halo Forge-style map editor that lets you create custom arenas and experiences. Not only can you toil away on your dream Splitgate map solo, but up to 16 players can work collaboratively on the same project at once.
The Splitgate 2 open beta is live right now and will carry on all the way up until the game’s full launch in the summer, with progress carrying over. You can play it on PC via Steam, Microsoft Store, or the Epic Games Store, on your Steam Deck, or on Xbox and Playstation consoles.
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