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

What this episode covers

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. Support XEP:Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/XboxExpansionPass Follow & Contact:BlueSky (Luke): @InsipidGhostBlueSky (Logun): @CaptLogunContact: [email protected] More XEP & Friends:Keelhauled – A Sea of Thieves Podcast: https://captlogun.podbean.com Review the show:If you enjoy XEP, please consider leaving a review on iTunes or Spotify — it’s one of the best ways to support the show. Thank you!