As we push toward the relaunch of Splitgate 2, we’ve been taking a step back to look at everything Splitgate has offered from its inception to today. The game has grown to include a wide mix of modes and experiences, and we’ve learned a lot from trying new ideas.

But when we look at where Splitgate feels the most fun and the most true to itself, it always comes back to the Arena.

Arena combat is the foundation of Splitgate. The movement, precision, and strategic use of portals colliding with tight gunplay are what set the game apart. That is the heart of Splitgate, and we are centering our efforts around it to ensure Splitgate 2 feels like a true sequel worthy of the original.

What’s Changing in the Beta

To support that vision, we’re making a few adjustments to what is available in the live Beta between now and relaunch. Here’s what’s changing and why:

We’re removing XP requirements across most playlists

We want players to access the modes they’re excited about more quickly. That starts with removing XP requirements for Team Deathmatch entirely. We’re also bringing back No Portals Mode, something the community has been asking for. It’s a great way to onboard new players into the core gunplay and movement sandbox, and it won’t require any XP to access.

Some modes are going back in the oven

As we said up top, we believe in the Arena experience at the core of Splitgate 2. That’s where the game shines, and that’s where we are putting our focus for relaunch. With that in mind, we’re temporarily removing Onslaught and Battle Royale so we can focus more fully on Arena.

Onslaught showed us there’s something exciting in large-scale Arena portal combat. But right now, it lacks a clear identity. It feels too much like a scaled-up version of Quickplay and doesn’t meaningfully expand on the experience. We want to rethink what this mode can be by expanding the battlefield, exploring new sandbox elements, and giving it its own personality. Onslaught will be removed from the playlist selection on our next weekly reset Thursday, September 18.

Battle Royale brought a lot of fresh ideas into the Splitgate universe, but it needs to grow into a mode that feels like a natural extension of the core Arena experience. Portaling between biomes mid-match, streamlined respawns, and relentless pacing offered something unique to the genre. We see the potential for a larger scale mode that pushes the Arena experience into new territory, but this version didn’t quite get there. It is going back in the oven alongside Onslaught, and we are excited about where it’s headed. When it returns, we want it to feel fast, polished, and unmistakably Splitgate.

Battle Royale will be removed from the playlist selection starting Thursday, September 25. In the meantime, we’ll be adding bots to the mode to ensure players still have a chance to complete any related challenges. Once the mode has been removed, you won’t be able to make progress on Battle Royale challenges, so take advantage of this window if there’s anything you would still like to wrap up.

We want to be clear: larger scale modes do have a future in Splitgate 2. But we cannot afford to split our focus when it comes to delivering the best possible core experience for players. With that in mind, these modes will not be available at relaunch. Our immediate priority is making sure Splitgate 2 launches with a strong, Arena-first foundation. Once we’ve delivered that, we plan to revisit our Battle Royale experience shortly after relaunch, with a more focused identity and stronger technical performance.

Looking Ahead

This relaunch is all about sharpening the game’s identity. Splitgate 2 will be an Arena-first experience, built around the movement, gunplay, and portal combat that make the game feel unique. Our first public playtest gave us a lot of valuable insight and reinforced that this direction feels right to many of you.If you haven’t already, check out our recent Playtest Retrospective video for a deeper look at how your feedback helped reinforce this direction and how we’re thinking about the future of Splitgate.From here, we’re excited to grow in ways that stay true to what Splitgate is.

We also want to keep the conversation going. Join us on the Splitgate Subreddit for an AMA tomorrow (9/12) at 10 AM PT where the team will be answering your questions and talking more about what’s next.