Summer Game Fest has seen its fair share of memorable moments, but none quite captured attention like the unveiling of Splitgate 2. The game’s CEO, Ian Proulx, made headlines by donning a bold black hat reading "Make FPS Great Again," echoing the infamous Trump MAGA slogan.

On stage, Proulx began to vocalize his frustrations with the current state of first-person shooters, stating, "I grew up playing Halo, and I'm tired of playing the same Call of Duty every year. I wish we could have Titanfall 3." He passionately declared that with Splitgate 2, they aimed to elevate the portal mechanics to a new level.

The hotly anticipated announcement included a new battle royale mode, touted as an innovative approach. However, the reveal faced criticism for its resemblance to existing titles and an expensive microtransaction model reminiscent of Call of Duty. Despite this, many players continue to enjoy the game.

In light of the hat controversy, Proulx took to social media to clarify his stance, stating, "I’m not here to apologize, but I am here to clarify. This is not a political statement, it is literally what it says, so take it at face value." He emphasized his belief that "the state of multiplayer FPS games is tragically stale," aiming to revitalize the genre through diverse gameplay modes.

While some see Proulx's comments as humorous, many argue that targeting rivals directly may not have been the best move. Regardless of the backlash, the hype from the reveal led to a significant boost in player numbers, with Splitgate 2's concurrent players on Steam skyrocketing from around 9-11,000 to an impressive 25,785. The lingering question remains: will this surge have lasting power?

As the debate continues, it’s clear that Splitgate 2 has quickly become a hot topic in the gaming community—one that could either pave the way for innovation or be overshadowed by controversy.