Splitgate 2 is in Alpha testing, giving players a first look at what to expect from 1047 Games’ sequel to its Halo-meets-Portal first-person shooter. Among the many changes made to the game, notably the addition of Factions, is a core mechanic that has altered how Portals work. Unfortunately, this isn’t a great change and makes using them more difficult, especially when in high-pressure situations. Here is how to switch the Portal binds back to the style of Splitgate 1.
Changing portal binds in Splitgate 2
The portal mechanic sets Splitgate 2 apart from other FPS games. Image via 1047 Games
The Portal mechanic helped set Splitgate apart from the sea of FPS titles available on the market. It returns in Splitgate 2 but its implementation has been altered, with the developers choosing to bind both Portals to one button or key rather than a bind for each Portal.
In the Splitgate 2 Alpha, the Portal bind is set to E by default. This is used for both the purple and yellow Portals, with X being used to switch between the two, and Z being used to close the Portals. When amid combat, knowing what Portal you have active can be incredibly confusing, even with changing the binds to be more optimal. Instead, having a bind for each Portal makes knowing which one you’re firing much easier, especially with multiple opponents shooting at you.
Changing your key binds can make your experience more optimal. Image captured by VideoGamer
To change this, click your profile picture in the main menu and click the Settings cog icon. From there, select Input and then Customize Controls to open up the menu to change your binds. There is an option to select both keyboard and gamepad depending on your preferred input device. Scroll down to the Portals section, which will have options for;
- Create Portal (Alternating)
- Switch Alternating Portal
- Close Portals
- Create Portal Left
- Create Portal Right
By default, there are binds for all options except Create Portal Left and Right. To set the Portal mechanic up to work like the original Splitgate game, remove the bind for Create Portal (Alternating) and choose your favorite binds for Create Portal Left and Right. This will mean that the key or button will only fire that Portal instead of alternating between the two.
While everyone has different key binds and sets things up to work for them, I like to use Q for the left Portal and E for the right. This lets me keep my finger on W to move forward while having easy access to the Portals. However, doing this will mean that you will need to rebind the Faction Ability from Q.
Another option could be to use your two side buttons on your mouse if you’re playing with a keyboard and mouse. I use one of them to close Portals and the other for the Faction Ability that was originally on Q. This worked well for me in Splitgate 1 so give it a try if you’re stuck for what to use. The Splitgate 2 Alpha is available until August 25th.
