Ian Proulx on Splitgate’s Reset, Arena Reloaded, and Lessons Learned | XEP Interview

In this episode of Xbox Expansion Pass, Luke Lohr (Insipid Ghost) sits down with Ian Proulx, CEO and co-founder of 1047 Games, for a candid discussion about Splitgate’s past year, the Summer Game Fest moment, and the lessons learned along the way.

Ian reflects on the challenges of building a sequel versus a new IP, why Splitgate 2 missed expectations for some players, and the difficult decision to reset and relaunch the game as Splitgate: Arena Reloaded. From there, the conversation shifts into gameplay philosophy, retention metrics, portal accessibility, monetization, and what “stabilizing” the game actually means heading into 2026.

This is a thoughtful, direct conversation about course correction, leadership, and rebuilding trust — without framing anyone as a villain or a victim.

Topics discussed include:

• The Summer Game Fest moment and how it reshaped the Splitgate conversation

• Lessons learned from that period and what Ian would do differently

• Why building a sequel is different than building a new IP

• Where Splitgate 2 missed player expectations

• The decision to pull the game back and reset

• Arena Reloaded’s refocus on classic arena gameplay

• Arena Royale explained

• Retention, requeue rate, and how 1047 measures success

• Portal balance and accessibility tools

• Monetization philosophy and rebuilding player trust

• Performance, polish, and the quality bar moving forward

👉 Clear takes. No console-war noise.

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