Splitgate 2’s CEO, Ian Proulx, caused a stir at Summer Game Fest by wearing a black hat with “Make FPS Great Again” emblazoned on it. The gesture was seen as a nod to the Trump MAGA hat and sparked heated debate about whether it was meant to be taken literally.
In his post-show statements, Proulx clarified that the hat wasn’t an apology for his views but rather a statement about the stale state of multiplayer FPS games. He aimed to emphasize that he’s committed to revitalizing the genre through various modes, including battle royale.
However, many still see the move as unprofessional and dismissive towards rivals. This perceived poor form overshadowed what could have been an exciting announcement for the new mode.
Despite this, Splitgate 2’s player count surged after the reveal, jumping from an average of 9-11K concurrent players on Steam to over 25K.
The long-term impact of this surge remains uncertain, and it’s unclear whether it will genuinely shake up the FPS genre’s hierarchy.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2025/06/07/splitgate-2-ceo-wont-apologize-for-make-fps-great-again-hat