The Splitgate: Arena Reloaded developer, 1047 Games, argues Steam player stats don’t show the full picture. The studio emphasizes strong multi-platform engagement and retention figures, challenging single-platform narratives.
Following its re-release on December 17, Splitgate: Arena Reloaded, a free-to-play shooter, faced scrutiny over its concurrent player numbers on Steam. Data from platforms like SteamDB showed a peak of 2,293 concurrent players, quickly dropping to hundreds. This contrasts sharply with the original Splitgate 2’s peak of 25,785 concurrent players in June 2025, raising questions about the game’s immediate impact.
However, 1047 Games insists that these figures are misleading, as reported by GamesIndustry.biz. The developer stated on social media, likely via their official 1047 Games X account, that “Steam Charts don’t measure fun” and “They don’t show the full picture,” pointing to broader metrics like 150,000 players within five days and improved retention across all platforms.
This situation highlights a growing disconnect between public perception, often driven by easily accessible Steam data, and the comprehensive internal metrics game developers utilize. Understanding this gap is crucial for investors, players, and industry watchers trying to gauge a game’s true market standing and long-term viability, especially for free-to-play titles heavily reliant on sustained engagement across diverse ecosystems.
The broader view of player engagement
The core of 1047 Games’ argument lies in the multi-platform nature of modern gaming. While Steam provides transparent PC player data, it often overlooks significant console audiences. For Splitgate: Arena Reloaded, this is crucial. Analytics firm Alinea Analytics informed GamesIndustry.biz that the shooter briefly hit 50,000 daily active users across Xbox and PlayStation post-launch, demonstrating “decent retention” in its first week.
This console performance offers a vital counter-narrative to the Steam data. Although console numbers also saw a subsequent drop, falling below 15,000 daily active users by January 5, the initial surge indicates a broader player base than PC-centric reports suggest. The studio’s statement emphasizes the importance of considering all platforms and the overall health of the community.
Retention and the free-to-play model
Retention, a critical metric for free-to-play titles, is another key area 1047 Games highlights. The developer claims that retention for Arena Reloaded is “the best it’s ever been,” a significant improvement over previous iterations. This focus on long-term engagement rather than just peak concurrent users reflects a strategic understanding of the free-to-play market, where consistent player activity often outweighs initial spikes, as explored in various analyses of F2P game metrics.
The re-release itself stemmed from a challenging period. After Splitgate 2’s less-than-stellar launch in June 2025, 1047 Games underwent layoffs and reverted the project “back to beta” to rebuild it. This dedication to refining the game, even amidst setbacks, underscores the Splitgate Arena Reloaded developer’s commitment to its player base and the belief in the game’s potential, as stated in their social media communication.
The debate surrounding Splitgate: Arena Reloaded’s player statistics highlights a broader industry challenge: relying solely on single-platform data can paint an incomplete picture. As gaming increasingly diversifies across platforms, developers and analysts must adopt comprehensive metrics that account for all player engagement. The future success of free-to-play titles like Splitgate may well depend on this holistic approach to performance evaluation.
