The launch of Splitgate 2 was meant to be a celebration, but controversy quickly overtook the spotlight, centered not on gameplay, but on a hat.
At Summer Game Fest this past weekend, game director Ian Proulx of 1047 Games took the stage wearing a black baseball cap adorned with the phrase “Make FPS Great Again.” The slogan, a play on the well-known campaign phrase associated with President Donald Trump, immediately sparked criticism across social media and major gaming outlets, who framed the gesture as politically charged.
A screenshot from Splitgate 2 – YouTube, jackfrags
Proulx, who insisted the hat was intended to be taken “at face value” as a commentary on the current state of first-person shooters, told IGN he did not regret wearing it.
“My friends and I, we talk about how bored we are [with modern FPS games]… It kind of says what we feel, which is we want to just make an awesome game and we’re not happy with the state of FPS.”
He noted the slogan has been widely meme’d, referencing a 2017 image of Hideo Kojima wearing a similar “Make TV Great Again” hat, which drew little reaction at the time. “We thought this was… something that’s been meme’d to death.”
I’m not here to apologize but I am here to clarify. This is not a political statement, it is quite literally what it says, so take it at face value.
The state of multiplayer FPS games is tragically stale. We hope to fix that, whether you want Arena, Battle Royale, Onslaught, or… pic.twitter.com/ihMsPZCeZH
— Splitgate 2 (@Splitgate) June 7, 2025
Despite the attempt to distance the message from politics, Proulx’s hat was quickly interpreted by progressive gaming media as a veiled political statement. IGN’s coverage went so far as to draw parallels between the slogan and ongoing political unrest in Los Angeles, claiming the hat could be upsetting in light of nearby supposedly “peaceful” protests involving ICE raids and National Guard deployment.
From Defiance to Apology
At first, Proulx stood firm. In his IGN interview, recorded Sunday, he said: “I don’t regret what I said… I’m speaking my truth and my intent is to make a great game for everybody.”
But by Tuesday, Proulx reversed course and issued an apology in a video message posted online.
No excuses, I’m sorry. pic.twitter.com/4dgOxrSXUJ
— Splitgate 2 (@Splitgate) June 10, 2025
“I want to apologize,” he said in the video. “And genuinely, you don’t have to believe me. But the truth is I am sorry. There’s division in the community, and for that I am truly sorry… I also understand that it’s not just about intent, it’s about impact.”
A screenshot from Splitgate 2 – YouTube, jackfrags
The apology drew swift reactions—mostly negative—from independent gaming creators and voices critical of legacy gaming media.
Jeremy from Geeks + Gamers wrote, “Never apologize. You just f***ed up BIG TIME… I will never let these freaks determine who or what I support.”
YouTube personality Smash JT added, “Oof. Never EVER Apologize to these marxists.”
Don’t do that…you are throwing away all this gamer goodwill. They will only come after you and everyone else harder now.
— Grummz (@Grummz) June 10, 2025
Former World of Warcraft lead developer Mark Kern (aka Grummz) warned, “Don’t do that… you are throwing away all this gamer goodwill. They will only come after you and everyone else harder now.”
Stuttering Craig of the Sidescrollers podcast and The Real Game Awards summed it up simply by saying, “Well… now the market will decide won’t it?”
YouTuber Endymion echoed the sentiment with a blunt, “Not a good look.”
Gaming Media vs. Gaming Audience
The incident has once again highlighted the growing chasm between gaming journalists and the gaming audience.
While outlets like IGN framed Proulx’s gesture as insensitive and inflammatory, many fans interpreted it as a humorous or even refreshing critique of the stagnation in the FPS genre. Supporters of Proulx’s original stance emphasized frustration with the formulaic nature of modern shooters and praised his call for innovation.
A screenshot from Splitgate 2 – YouTube, jackfrags
The controversy underscores a pattern seen in recent years, where developers are often caught between industry media expectations and player communities that increasingly reject political messaging and demand more traditional gameplay experiences.
Not the Only Controversy
The hat wasn’t the only source of friction. Proulx also criticized Call of Duty onstage, saying, “I’m tired of playing the same Call of Duty every year.” The remark led to online arguments between the Splitgate and Call of Duty communities. A since-deleted tweet from the official Splitgate account responded to a developer by mocking the sameness of Call of Duty titles.
Proulx clarified he wasn’t behind the post but took responsibility, calling it a misstep.
A screenshot from Splitgate 2 – YouTube, jackfrags
Meanwhile, the game itself has received criticism for an expensive microtransaction bundle priced at $145, later discounted to $80 and then to $40 after backlash. Proulx apologized for the pricing, blaming a now-departed head of monetization and pledging refunds for affected players.
Moving Forward
Despite the week’s hat-related controversies, Splitgate 2 has crossed 2.5 million players. Proulx emphasized the game’s potential and his hope to win back the community. “Whether you like my original statement or not, that is what I am trying to accomplish here… a product that people want to support where we are listening.”
A screenshot from Splitgate 2 – YouTube, jackfrags
But in the eyes of many critics and independent creators, the damage may already be done—not from the hat itself, but from the decision to walk back its message.
How do you feel about the Splitgate 2 director apologizing for his hat? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
