Following the launch of Splitgate 2 and the studio head’s divisive “essential” comments, concurrent player counts have surged threefold from its beta phase. Ian Prolux’s Summer Game Fest 2025 appearance drew attention through both candid critiques of annualized military shooters and a conspicuous “Make FPS Great Again” cap.

While some gamers rallied behind Prolux’s blunt assessment, others criticized the politically charged accessory’s implications. This backlash prompted an apology video where the executive clarified the stunt aimed to cut through industry noise, stating: “We needed something dramatic to stand out.”

Player surge meets critique

The controversial strategy proved effective, with post-launch engagement tripling beta participation. Steam concurrent players shattered previous records (25,785 vs 12,166), though Prolux emphasized stronger console adoption. Despite settling at ~20,000 peak daily users, reception remains tepid – evidenced by Steam’s 62% approval and PlayStation’s 4.06/5 rating.

Beyond the MAGA controversy, critiques target underbaked battle royale mechanics and missing ranked play – unexpected omissions given the mode’s SGF showcase prominence. Early adopters anticipate rapid updates addressing these concerns, mirroring the original game’s responsive development cycle.