Reactions to Splitgate 2’s gameplay reveal have been a mixed bag for fans that loved the original. It’s great to see the game evolve, but many worry it might end up as just another hero shooter.
Splitgate 2 revealed its gameplay in a nearly five-minute trailer today, diving into many of the things that will (hopefully) make this sequel worth switching over to. Perhaps the biggest change is the class system the new game comes with. As FPS streamer and Apex Legends pro iiTzTimmy put it, Splitgate 2 is “no longer just portaling and gunplay. It’s factions, comboing with utility, and abilities.” But outside of the hype some fans have for the new title, many commenters were pleading for the game not to become a hero shooter.
Highlighted in the teaser and throughout the game’s website after Splitgate 2’s initial reveal, there will be three “factions” that function as classes for players to pick: Aeros, which are “fast, agile, portal masters”, Meridian, the game’s “healers and spotters”, and Sabrask the “defenders and fraggers.” These factions include passives the Splitgate devs have yet to detail, as well as unique abilities for each character, such as Meridian’s ability to manipulate time like Overwatch’s Tracer, or Hypersight, revealing enemy locations and health, which sounds a whole lot like Widowmaker’s ult.
Simply put, the hero shooter genre has become awfully crowded in the last couple of years, and it has its flaws. For example, it became common to use characters as hard counters from early on in Overwatch‘s lifespan. D.Va can counter Mei, Moira can counter Tracer, and so on. Much of what people enjoyed about the format of Splitgate’s gameplay doesn’t follow those same rules.
Gamers flocked to the original Splitgate for its commitment to the aesthetics and play structure of a classic shooter like Halo. Players didn’t have to worry about character or class picks, as everyone was on an equal playing field. All that factored into success was strategy and how well you could shoot your gun. Customization was restricted to skins for the player, their weapons, and their accessories. That seems to be a far cry from what’s coming in the game’s sequel.
That could just be how the game is being portrayed, though. The Splitgate team is likely aware of how popular many hero shooters are, and posturing the sequel as a similar title could help bring in a new audience. When it comes to gameplay, a core difference is the ability to fully customize what factions are being used. It doesn’t seem like there’s anyone stopping a group of players from all picking Sabrask and winning, although they might be more limited in gameplay options. Many have also pointed out that Splitgate 2’s faction system echoes that of a Halo: Reach multiplayer loadout, with some key differences.
As more gets revealed, that hype may increase, and the fears of being another Overwatch or possibly worse, a Concord, will vanish.
