Splitgate 2 Director Apologizes for MAGA Hat and Call of Duty Comments

Splitgate 2, the latest offering from 1047 Games, was meant to be a triumph. The launch brought with it an exciting battle royale mode, announced at Summer Game Fest.

However, what should have been a celebration of the game’s success instead became marred by a series of controversies that divided fans and left the community feeling torn.

One of the first and most talked-about issues was the infamous “Make FPS Great Again” hat worn by game director Ian Proulx during the Summer Game Fest presentation. The hat’s clear nod to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan stirred up controversy, with many fans feeling uncomfortable about the political connotations. Despite this, Proulx defended the hat, stating that it was never intended to make a political statement but rather a humorous jab at the current state of first-person shooters.

“We didn’t think it would be as controversial as it was,” Proulx said. “It was more of a meme and a way to express how we feel about the FPS genre. We want to bring something fresh and exciting to the table. It wasn’t about politics.” However, despite his intentions, the hat sparked widespread debate, especially among those who felt it was a tone-deaf move given the heated political climate.

As the controversy over the hat unfolded, Proulx found himself defending his actions once again after calling out the Call of Duty franchise during his onstage remarks. He expressed frustration with the yearly updates to the series, stating that he longed for the days of games like Halo and Titanfall. While the comment was likely meant to be light-hearted, it didn’t sit well with Call of Duty fans, and Proulx’s remarks were criticized as unnecessary and divisive.

“I don’t have a problem with Call of Duty,” Proulx later clarified. “But I miss the days when games felt more innovative. I miss the excitement of new ideas and fresh gameplay.” Still, this comment added fuel to the fire, especially considering Splitgate 2 includes many similar features to those seen in Call of Duty.

And if the hat and the Call of Duty comments weren’t enough, another issue arose: the game’s pricing. A microtransaction bundle priced at $145, which was later discounted to $40, was immediately called out by fans as outrageous. Proulx admitted that he was unaware of the pricing strategy at the time of launch, blaming the former head of monetization for the excessive prices.

“We’ve learned from this,” Proulx said. “We’re not going to make the same mistake again. We’ve refunded players who bought the bundle, and we’ve adjusted the pricing across the board.” Despite this, the damage had been done, and many fans were left questioning the direction of the game.

Despite these controversies, Proulx remains optimistic about Splitgate 2’s future. “We’ve had some setbacks, but we’re listening to the community and making changes. If we keep doing that, we’ll be fine,” he concluded. “We’re focused on making the best game possible, and we’re putting all the drama behind us.”