During this year’s Summer Game Fest, 1047 Games CEO Ian Proulx caught some attention, not just for his words, but for the hat perched on his head. The phrase “Make FPS Great Again” sparked some chatter, and Proulx has publicly apologized for it.
The hat was meant to be a meme to draw more eyes to Splitgate 2. Proulx explained on the official Splitgate 2 X account that indie developers struggle to get noticed. He pointed out how their trailer was lost among dozens at The Game Awards, so he wanted to do something bold when the game left beta.
He admitted the hat was never intended to be seen as a political statement, though he knew it might stir some controversy. The goal was to use a meme reflecting their honest feelings about the FPS genre, which they believe is in a rough spot.
Still, Proulx recognized that the impact outweighed the intent. The move divided the community more than they hoped, and he sincerely regretted it. “No excuses, I’m sorry,” he said, acknowledging its adverse effect on fans and players.
No excuses, I'm sorry. pic.twitter.com/4dgOxrSXUJ
— SPLITGATE: Arena Reloaded (@Splitgate) June 10, 2025
