My Wait for the Next Halo: How Splitgate 2 Became My Unexpected Beacon

Halo Infinite and Splitgate deliver exhilarating arena shooter experiences, blending strategic combat and innovative gameplay for devoted fans.

As a dedicated Halo fan since the early days, my journey with Halo Infinite has been a rollercoaster of emotions. I remember the initial surge of excitement in 2021, diving into the expansive, free-to-play multiplayer that felt like a glorious return to form. The gunplay was crisp, the art direction stunning, and for a moment, it seemed like 343 Industries had recaptured the magic. But as the months wore on into 2024 and beyond, that initial spark began to dim. The updates felt sparse, the seasons were separated by agonizingly long gaps, and the focus on in-game monetization often left a sour taste. To their credit, the developers did eventually deliver fantastic tools like the incredible Forge Mode and the chaotic fun of Firefight: King of the Hill. Yet, by 2026, it's clear the thriving community of launch day has scattered. The concurrent player counts are a shadow of their former selves, and the haunting question lingers: how long can this live-service world truly sustain itself when the population feels so thin?

Like many in my Spartan circle, I've found myself in a holding pattern. 343 promises support for the foreseeable future, but my heart isn't in returning to Infinite. We're all waiting, somewhat impatiently, for the next true mainline entry. The whispers from the industry suggest that successor is still years away, potentially not even arriving within this console generation. It's a daunting prospect for someone whose gaming identity is so tied to the ringed worlds of this franchise. So, what's a fan to do? We scour the horizon for anything that can scratch that specific itch—the blend of strategic movement, arena-style combat, and that intangible feel.

The Portal to a New Hope: Remembering Splitgate

That's when my memory drifted back to a quirky little game from 2019: Splitgate. I recalled its initial stumble out of the gate during its Early Access days. It had a brilliant, almost absurdly simple premise: take the core arena shooter combat of Halo and mash it together with the mind-bending portal mechanics of Portal. Instead of just sprinting across maps, you could create instantaneous wormholes, shooting through them to flank enemies or make impossible escapes. This single mechanic transformed every match from a standard team deathmatch into a dynamic, three-dimensional chess game. I remember the strategies we'd devise:

• Placing a portal on a high sniper perch and its exit behind an enemy control point.

• Using portals as quick retreats or to "reload" by looping back to a weapon rack.

• The sheer chaos of a fully portal-enabled Big Team Battle scenario.

It was revolutionary, yet for the longest time, it lived in the shadows. That all changed dramatically in mid-2021. Suddenly, as if a switch was flipped, Splitgate exploded in popularity. Its player count on Steam skyrocketed. It was the right game at the right time, filling a void many didn't know they had. The developers, 1047 Games, were caught just as off-guard as we were, scrambling to support this sudden influx with proper seasonal content.

The Evolution Halts for a Revolution

However, the story took a sharp turn in late 2022. Just as the community was settling in, 1047 Games made a shocking announcement. They were ceasing all development on the original Splitgate. No more seasons, no more updates. In a heartfelt message, they stated they were reallocating all resources to a new project—one that promised not an evolution, but a revolution of the "Halo with portals" concept. We were left with a fantastic game frozen in time, and a massive question mark hanging over the future.

For nearly two years, we heard nothing but silence. Then, in the summer of 2024, the veil was finally lifted.

Splitgate 2: The Competitive Reimagining

The announcement trailer for Splitgate 2 was pure CGI spectacle, light on concrete details but heavy on implication. Since then, through developer interviews and community drops leading into 2026, a clearer picture has emerged. 1047 Games isn't just making a graphical upgrade; they're fundamentally re-architecting the experience. The biggest shift? It's being designed from the ground up as a 4v4 competitive FPS. The chaotic, large-scale battles are being refined into a tighter, more tactical framework.

Here’s what has me, a weary Halo veteran, genuinely excited:

Feature	What It Means
Faction System	Choosing a side with unique narrative stakes and potential cosmetic rewards, adding a layer of persistence and identity beyond just a player tag.
Refined Portal Tech	Promises of more stable, strategic, and competitive portal mechanics, reducing some of the wild randomness for higher-skill play.
Modernized Progression	A commitment to a fair, engaging, and transparent progression system—a direct response to the monetization frustrations plaguing other live-service titles.
Cross-Play & Cross-Progression	Confirmed for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, ensuring the community stays united from day one.

Crucially, the developers have emphasized that while there are factions and deeper customization, this is not a hero shooter. There are no unique character abilities or ultimates. The core skill ceiling will still reside in your aim, your map knowledge, and your ingenious use of portals. It's about elevating the pure arena shooter, not diluting it.

Why This Feels Like the Perfect Stopgap

Scheduled for its full release in 2025 (and now actively in its testing phases as we approach 2026), Splitgate 2 has positioned itself as the perfect spiritual successor to the wait. For me and many others, it represents more than just a new game to play. It represents:

• A Return to Arena Purity: A focus on map control, power weapon timers, and skill-based movement.

• Innovation Within Tradition: It respects the foundations of the genre while daring to add one transformative mechanic.

• Developer Passion: 1047 Games' decision to scrap a popular live game to build something better shows a rare commitment to a vision over quick profits.

As I wait for the next chapter of Master Chief's saga, my eyes are no longer fixed solely on 343 Industries. They're watching 1047 Games. Splitgate 2 isn't just another shooter on the horizon; it feels like a beacon—a promise that the essence of the arena shooters I fell in love with is not only alive but is being nurtured and innovated upon by a team with a clear, passionate vision. The wait for the next Halo continues, but now, thanks to a portal, the path forward looks a lot more exciting. 🎮⚡