“We’re not trying to build Titanfall 3,” Empulse CEO says, though its’s scratching my wallrunning FPS itch all the same
Empulse, a movement-focused first-person shooter from developer 1047 Games, is launching into early access on Steam following a successful Steam Next Fest demo. The game emphasizes dynamic movement mechanics including wallrunning and parkour-style traversal, positioning itself as a spiritual successor to arena shooters like Titanfall.
Developed by 1047 Games, the studio behind the Portal-inspired Splitgate series, Empulse represents an important moment for the company. Studio CEO Ian Proulx has stated the game is not an attempt to recreate Titanfall 3, but rather aims to innovate on the movement shooter formula by prioritizing creative mobility mechanics. “We wanted it to be more about movements,” Proulx explained.
The early access launch carries significant weight for 1047 Games, coming after the disappointing reception of Splitgate 2. Last year’s Summer Game Fest saw an awkward PR moment when Proulx appeared on stage in a controversial red ‘Make FPS Great Again’ baseball cap to promote Splitgate 2—a tone-deaf marketing choice that drew criticism and an apology from the CEO. The incident failed to improve the game’s fortunes.
With Empulse, the studio appears focused on rebuilding momentum and proving the core competency of 1047 Games lies in designing compelling movement-based gameplay rather than portal mechanics. The emphasis on parkour and wallrunning gameplay suggests an attempt to capture the appeal that made Titanfall’s mobility systems beloved by players, without directly copying that formula.