Controversy in Splitgate 2: Launch Prices and External Influence

The recent appearance of Ian Proulx, CEO of 1047 Games and creative director of Splitgate 2, at the Summer Game Fest 2025, was marked by a public statement of dissatisfaction with the current state of first-person shooter games (FPS), followed by the announcement of a Battle Royale mode for the title. However, what really caught the community's attention was the discovery of cosmetic packs in the game with values of up to US$ 80.

Proulx spoke out to explain the pricing policy, attributing responsibility to a former developer from the Call of Duty team. In a video posted on Twitter, he stated: "No excuses, of course, I should have been aware of this. The second I walked off that stage, I called Derek, our lead game designer, and said: 'Derek, did you know we had an US$ 80 pack? This is news to me, what the hell? That doesn't make sense.'" This statement raised questions about the level of leadership supervision over monetization decisions in a project under development, especially one with the profile of Splitgate 2.

Proulx's claim points to the influence of a "former monetization chief, who happened to come from Call of Duty, and was with us for less than a year and was very aggressive on pricing." It is relevant to note that this explanation comes after Proulx's comments on the SGF stage about being "tired of playing the same Call of Duty every year," and a tweet from the official Splitgate account that criticized a CoD developer before being deleted. This sequence of events creates a narrative that shifts blame to the competition, which can be interpreted as a tactic to divert attention from internal decisions at 1047 Games.

Proulx detailed that, under the influence of this former developer, the Founder's Packs were originally set at US$ 100 and the Battle Passes at US$ 10. However, he and the game's lead designer, Derek, intervened to reduce these prices to US$ 60 and US$ 5, respectively. Despite these interventions, the US$ 80 cosmetic pack – which has since been halved to US$ 40 – "slipped through the cracks." This situation suggests a failure in internal review and approval processes, allowing prices considered "aggressive" to be implemented, even with alleged opposition from leadership.

Proulx assured that 1047 Games' philosophy for Splitgate 2 is based on generosity and listening to player feedback. He stated: "I, fundamentally, believe that the best way, as a business, truly, to make money, is not to charge players an exorbitant amount. It is to be generous and thoughtful, and listen to feedback. [...] That is our philosophical vision with Splitgate 2." Although the statement of intent is positive, the launch with US$ 80 packs directly contrasts with this philosophy, raising doubts about the effectiveness of supervision and the alignment of the development team with leadership's vision. The credibility of 1047 Games regarding monetization will be tested in the coming months, and the gaming community will be watching to see if future actions truly reflect Proulx's promises.