A Movement Shooter Calling Itself Titanfall's Successor Hits Early Access on June 24
EMPULSE, the new title from Splitgate developer 1047 Games, launched into Early Access on Steam and Xbox Series X|S on June 24, 2026. The 6v6 movement shooter layers wall-running, grappling hooks, and sliding on top of player-piloted mechs, positioning itself as the spiritual successor to Titanfall 2 that EA's Respawn has shown no plans to make. Opening-day concurrency on Steam peaked at roughly 2,740 players, while early reviews — based on the first 343 ratings — landed at 69% positive, putting the game in Steam's "Mixed" tier.
At a Glance
| Field | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Game | EMPULSE | |
| Developer | 1047 Games | |
| Release Date | June 24, 2026 (Early Access) | |
| Platforms | PC (Steam), Xbox Series X\ | S — PS5 delayed pending certification |
| Genre | First-person movement shooter / 6v6 multiplayer | |
| Price | $14.99 (25% launch-week discount off $19.99 standard) | |
| Monetization | No battle pass, no store, no microtransactions; cosmetics earned through play only | |
| Expected Early Access window | 9–12 months |
Developer Info
1047 Games built its name on the free-to-play arena shooter Splitgate. Its follow-up, Splitgate 2, sparked backlash over an overpriced launch microtransaction model and was pulled back into beta before re-emerging as Splitgate: Arena Reloaded. EMPULSE was announced shortly after as the studio's new flagship project. CEO Ian Proulx has said the team wants to "focus on what matters most to players" with its pricing approach. Development has been underway since sometime in 2025.
Platform Release Details
| Platform | Status | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC (Steam) | Launched on schedule | June 24, $14.99 launch discount | |
| Xbox Series X\ | S | Launched on schedule | Simultaneous June 24 release |
| PS5 | Delayed | Certification delay announced less than 24 hours before launch; no timeline given |
Less than a day before the June 24 launch, 1047 Games announced via its official social account that the PS5 version would be delayed pending platform certification. The studio did not disclose whether the delay stemmed from a late submission or an extended review, and clarified the delay does not indicate a defect in the game.
Score Breakdown
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Steam rating (at launch) | 69% positive | Based on first 343 reviews, rated "Mixed" |
| Steam concurrent player peak | ~2,740 | Per SteamDB, recorded within first 24 hours |
| Pre-launch wishlists | 250,000+ | Per 1047 Games |
| Steam Next Fest survey score | 8.1 out of 10 | 1047 Games' own player survey; studio acknowledged "room for improvement" |
| Demo popularity | Top 50 most-played at Next Fest | June 2026 Steam Next Fest |
Screenshots (Official Steam)
Key Review Quotes
""Empulse is a lot like Titanfall and you can play it right now... You'd need to have literally never heard of Titanfall to not spot the similarities." — rogue.site
""EMPULSE doesn't seem distinct enough to justify being a standalone paid title." — dotesports
""1047 remarks that the feedback survey 'averaged an 8.1 out of ten on fun,' though also notes that this left 'room for improvement.'" — PCGamesN
Drawbacks
| Drawback | Details |
|---|---|
| Thin identity | Visuals and gunplay criticized as too close to Splitgate's |
| Mech balance | Mechs described as feeling like "lead weights" rather than rewards; piloting feel called awkward |
| Weapon balance | The sledgehammer melee finisher is seen as overpowered, pushing fights toward one-shot outcomes |
| No PS5 at launch | Certification delay announced a day before launch, no timeline, risking console player loss |
| Conversion rate | A 2,740 concurrent peak is respectable but modest against a 250,000-wishlist base |
Community Reaction
Steam reviews and community discussion are split between praise for the movement system and concerns about identity and balance.
- ▶"If you love movement-first shooters and want to help shape one, Empulse is a rough diamond with real sparkle." — Empulse Review, uk.moyens.net
- ▶"Mechs feel like lead weights strapped to your shoulders... hardly the satisfying fantasy I expected after Titanfall 2's BT moments." — same review, on mech handling
- ▶"EMPULSE doesn't seem distinct enough to justify being a standalone paid title" — dotesports, on similarities to Splitgate
- ▶Some players have also raised complaints that controller aim assist is tuned too generously for competitive play
Buying Guide
| Profile | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Players missing Titanfall 2's movement | Recommended — the most direct successor available |
| Players wanting a fully polished competitive shooter | Wait for balance patches |
| Players comfortable with Early Access rough edges | Recommended — $14.99 launch price lowers the barrier |
| PS5 players | Hold off — no confirmed release date due to certification delay |
"Buy on Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/4323990
System Requirements (PC)
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit | Windows 10/11 64-bit |
| CPU | Core i3-6100 / i5-2500K / Ryzen 3 1200 | Core i5-6600K / i7-4770 / Ryzen 5 1400 |
| RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB |
| GPU | GTX 960 / RX 470 | GTX 1060 / RX 580 |
| DirectX | 11 | 11 |
| Network | Persistent internet connection required | Persistent internet connection required |
The requirements are notably forgiving for a 2026 release. A decade-old GTX 960-class GPU can still run the game at lower settings and resolution, though particle-heavy mech fights benefit from hardware at or above the recommended tier. Players considering a purchase can test their own hardware first via the free Steam demo before committing.
GamePeak Verdict
EMPULSE is the most direct attempt yet to fill the Titanfall 2-shaped hole in the shooter market. Its wall-running and grapple-hook movement earned praise, but visual overlap with Splitgate and awkward mech handling leave an open question about its own identity. An opening of 2,740 concurrent players and 69% positive reviews is not a disaster, but it isn't an explosive launch either.
The decision to skip battle passes and microtransactions looks like a trust-building move, but how quickly 1047 Games tunes balance and ships content over the projected 9-to-12-month Early Access run will determine whether EMPULSE survives past its launch window.
GamePeak Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5) — Movement feels great, but identity and balance remain unfinished
GamePeak Editorial | June 27, 2026