What Splitgate is
Splitgate is a free-to-play multiplayer shooter built around portals you place yourself. You keep the familiar feel of a close-quarters FPS — standard controls, aiming, shooting — and add portals as a movement and positioning tool. You fly, flank, and shoot through them to get angles an opponent does not expect, like appearing behind someone who still thinks you are standing in front of them. The combat is fast and the vertical movement matters as much as your aim.
Playing together with your group
Cross-play lets your group team up or face off across multiple consoles and PCs, so people are not split up by what hardware they own. There are competitive and casual modes, so a mixed-skill group can still find a match that works for everyone. The mode list runs past 15, and there are more than 20 maps to rotate through. If you would rather play your own way, you can set up a custom lobby with modifiers — the developers call out Big-Head Mode with low gravity and unlimited ammo as a good time. Characters are customizable, there are grindable challenges to work on between matches, and a leaderboard and ranking system track where you stand.
Before you start
Expect portals to be the core of the loop, not a side gimmick. Each map has its own layout and feel, and the settings vary widely: a research facility inside an active volcano, an underwater luxury hotel, an alien crash site, and more. The maps reward changing your tactics rather than repeating one route, since portal placement and angles shift what is a good position. Standard FPS controls plus straightforward portal mechanics mean newcomers can get going quickly, and captions are available. Controller support is full, Steam Achievements are present, and the game includes in-app purchases.