EMPULSE Early Access Launch Brings Wall-Running FPS With No Microtransactions
EMPULSE enters the competitive FPS space with a buy-to-play model and a promise of no microtransactions, a notable contrast to the free-to-play and battle pass conventions common in the genre.
Reporting from 2 sources: 4Gamer.net, Denfaminicogamer.
1047 Games released the Early Access version of its competitive FPS EMPULSE on June 25, 2026. The game is available on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S with cross-play support. It is priced at 3,150 yen, with a 25% launch sale reducing it to 2,362 yen until July 2. EMPULSE is a 6v6 movement shooter that emphasizes wall-running, grappling hooks, and three-dimensional combat. Mechs appear on the map and can be piloted, providing heavy firepower and high durability. The Early Access build adds a new map called Drainage, a Mech Bounty mode where each team fields one mech, and the Requiem sniper rifle. Ranked 4v4 matches are available across three modes-Upload, Control, and Intel-unlocked after earning 50,000 account XP. The developer stated there will be no store, battle pass, or microtransactions at launch; cosmetic items are earned through gameplay. The Early Access period is planned to last 9 to 12 months, with a price increase expected at full release. On launch day, the melee weapon Finale (Hammer) received damage and attack time adjustments after player complaints.
1047 Games, the studio behind the portal-based FPS Splitgate, launched EMPULSE into Early Access on June 25. During the Steam Next Fest period, the game received an average satisfaction score of 8.1 out of 10 in a player survey and accumulated 250,000 wishlist registrations. The developer has positioned EMPULSE as a one-time purchase title, explicitly stating there will be no store, battle pass, or microtransactions at the start of Early Access. Cosmetic items that change appearance are instead obtained through in-game play, progression, and events.
The Early Access version includes a new stage called Drainage, which was not present in the demo, and a new mode called Mech Bounty where each team deploys one mech and destroying the enemy mech yields high points. A new sniper rifle, Requiem, has also been added. Ranked matches are 4v4 and cover three modes: Upload, Control, and Intel. Players must earn 50,000 account XP to unlock ranked play, after which 10 placement matches determine an initial rank. The Early Access period is expected to last 9 to 12 months, and a price increase is planned for the full release. On launch day, the melee weapon Finale (Hammer) was adjusted: player damage reduced from 100 to 75, mech damage from 250 to 200, and melee attack time shortened from 0.850 to 0.595 seconds, though a direct grapple onto a player remains a one-hit kill.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.