Ian Proulx, CEO ofSplitgate 2developer/publisher 1047 Games, has issued a formal apology for his controversial behavior at Summer Game Fest. During the show, Proulx appeared on stage in a hat that read “Make FPS great again,” a play on a political slogan used by US President Donald Trump. The hat - along with Proulx’s comments on the state of first-person shooter gaming - quickly garnered controversy, with players calling it insensitive.
Although Proulx initially refused to apologize, claiming that the hat was “not a political statement,” in a post on the officialSplitgateX (formerly Twitter),he has now issued an apology. In the three-minute video apology, he outlines his reasoning for wearing the hat, and ultimately apologizes for the decision, saying, “the reason I’m sorry is because of what this has done to the community.” He also promises an end to similar stunts, saying, “We’re just gonna go back to listening and focusing on the game, and nothing else.”
The “Make FPS Great Again” Hat Has Caused Controversy
Why Proulx Chose The Hat
In his video apology, Proulx says that his hat was intended to stir up controversy. He cites the lukewarm response toSplitgate 2’s initial revealat The Game Awards as a decisive factor, after which he and other employees at 1047 Games wanted their Summer Game Fest appearance to stand out. “Obviously, I knew there would be some level of controversy. But we really saw this as a meme that was stating our truth… that we thought would be not nearly as [negatively] received as the way it was.”
However, many fans saw Proulx’s hat, and his subsequent refusal to apologize, asan inherently political statement, regardless of the intent behind it. Reddit userOnimZeksaid of his refusal to apologize, “Since it’s a political hat, imitating it would also be political.” Many also took issue with the overall tone of Proulx’s presentation, criticizing its antagonistic tonetowards other FPS games, which they felt was ultimately unearned by the subsequent reveal ofSpligate 2’s battle royale mode and microtransactions.
Proulx apologizes for provoking comments such as these, andthe way his decision has negatively affected theSplitgatecommunity. “We do believe that the genre is in a bad state, and we want to make FPS games as amazing as possible. But I also understand that it’s not just about intent, it’s about impact.”
Splitgate 2’s Summer Game Fest Stunt Wasn’t The Best
Proulx’s Appearance Has Caused Only Negative Reception
There are a lot of ways to get attention for your big reveal at Summer Game Fest. Some developers bring out celebrities. Others tell truly compelling stories. Still others just have excellent trailers.Even more objectionable methods of drawing attention can be effective- at the 2017 Game Awards,director ofSplit FictionJosef Faresnotoriously looked directly down the camera and declared, “F**k the Oscars,” in a moment that went viral and likely got thousands of players (if not more) invested in his then-upcoming game,A Way Out.
ButProulx’s decision has drawn nothing but criticismtoSplitgate 2and 1047 games as a whole. Although his MAGA-inspired hat conjures up all sorts of negative connotations, I’ve probably seen and heard from more players upset because they saw this publicity stunt for what it was: an inorganic attempt to drum up controversy. He may have succeeded in getting more eyes onSplitgate 2, but he’s also damaged the game’s reputation in the process.
