The launch of Call of Duty Black Ops 6 has been a refreshing reminder of just how much fun a simple but satisfying multiplayer FPS can be. But there’s no question what stands atop my most-wanted list right now. Splitgate 2 is the sequel to a game that completely won my heart, despite not initially seeming like it’d be for me. It finds a perfect blend between the movement tech of Halo and shooting a little more influenced by the likes of CoD and Battlefield, and its distinctive portal mechanic transforms those excellent fundamentals into something truly special.
Splitgate 2 evolves one of the best FPS games I’ve played in recent years with a new faction system that lets you define your preferred playstyle. It’s set to arrive in 2025 as a free Steam game, but these early playtests are a great chance to get a feel for how it’s shaping up and provide your feedback to help turn it into the best game possible. I’ll take any excuse to play some more Splitgate, but if you’ve yet to try it out then now is a perfect opportunity.
Following its first alpha test in August, developer 1047 Games promised lots of tweaks based on the Splitgate 2 feedback it received, with improvements such as the ability to sprint while reloading for all factions and a slightly increased TTK (time to kill). It’s also been working on more grand, long-term changes such as larger, more vertical maps.
Now, it’s time to get back on the field and see what’s changed. “Suit up and get ready for Splitgate 2,” the developer writes in a new post shared on social media. “The team’s been cooking up something explosive and we’re excited to get your feedback. Sign up for our next playtest and we’ll see you in the arena.”
If you want to join, you’ll need to fill out a short survey with a few details such as your preferred platform, whether you prefer keyboard and mouse or controller, and how much, if any, of the first game you’ve played. 1047 Games says that if you’ve already filled out a form for the previous playtest then you won’t need to reapply. We don’t yet have the details on when it will start, but successful applicants will be contacted by email.
Looking for more competition while you wait? Here are the best multiplayer games in 2024. We’ll keep you up to speed on the Splitgate 2 release date as we learn more.
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