Split Fiction Dev Calls EA a 'Good Partner' as Hazelight Begins Work on Next Game

Hazelight director Josef Fares recently provided clarity on his studio's relationship with EA and excitingly announced that the team behind It Takes Two and Split Fiction is already hard at work on their next project. During an insightful interview on the Friends Per Second podcast, Fares, known for his candid nature and the memorable "f*** the Oscars" comment, discussed the studio's journey and future plans. Fans of Split Fiction, Hazelight's latest critically acclaimed co-op adventure, can look forward to new developments as the team begins to explore fresh ideas.

Fares shared his approach to game development, emphasizing his eagerness to move on to new projects once a game is released. "For me, personally, every time a game is out, I’m kind of done with it. I’m kind of like, ‘OK, here’s the next thing,’" he remarked about his mindset following the release of Split Fiction. He noted that while Split Fiction has been the best-received game Hazelight has produced, his focus and excitement are already directed towards their next venture, which began development about a month ago.

While details about Hazelight's upcoming game remain under wraps, Fares hinted at the studio's commitment to innovation in co-op gaming. "There is a reason why I can’t talk about the next game; it’s because it’s quite early," he stated. He reassured fans that the wait would be worth it, as Hazelight typically completes a game within three to four years. "It’s way too early, but just know this: we are very, very, very, very excited here. Very excited, and we started working on this a month ago-ish."

A Tale of Two Studios

Over the past seven years, Hazelight has collaborated with EA on several successful titles, including A Way Out and It Takes Two. Fares emphasized that EA's role is purely supportive, with no influence over the creative direction of Hazelight's projects. "Here’s the thing, people don’t understand this: EA is a supporter. We don’t pitch games to them," he clarified. "We say, ‘We’re going to do this.’ That’s it. They have zero, and I mean zero, thing to say about what we’re doing next."

Despite EA's mixed reputation in the industry, Fares described his experience with the publisher as overwhelmingly positive. "With that said, I have to say, they’re a good partner," he added. "Nobody believes me. Whatever I say, they’re like, ‘Yeah, yeah. It’s EA.’ Look, I don’t know anything about what EA are doing. Maybe they’re f***ing up with other developers. With us, no. They respect us. They respect what we do. I’m very clear with them that they cannot interfere with what we do. Now, we have become one of their most successful studios."

Split Fiction has not only received high praise from critics, with IGN awarding it a 9/10, but it has also achieved remarkable commercial success. The game sold 1 million copies within 48 hours and reached 2 million copies sold in just one week, surpassing the sales pace of its predecessor, It Takes Two, which had sold 20 million copies by October 2024.