Hazelight's director, Josef Fares, recently provided clarity on his studio's relationship with EA and teased that the team behind It Takes Two and Split Fiction is already diving into their next project. In an engaging conversation on the Friends Per Second podcast, Fares, famously known for his outspoken comment about the Oscars, reflected on Hazelight's journey and what lies ahead. Fans of Split Fiction, Hazelight's latest critically acclaimed co-op adventure, will be thrilled to know that the studio is already brainstorming new ideas.
Fares shared his mindset post-release, stating, "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.’ This has been a bit extra special. I would say that it’s been the best-received game we have done, but to be honest, everybody is super happy, but I’m so fully-focused and excited on the next thing that we already have started."
While Fares kept details about Hazelight's upcoming game under wraps, he mentioned that work began just a month ago. Known for revolutionizing co-op gaming, Hazelight's next title remains a mystery for now, but fans can expect to hear more in the coming years. "There is a reason why I can’t talk about the next game; it’s because it’s quite early," Fares noted. "You do know, at Hazelight, we don’t work on [a] game more than three or four years. Three or four years is not so far away. Then we’re going to talk more about it. 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 last seven years, Hazelight has collaborated with EA on several projects. Titles like A Way Out and It Takes Two have cemented Hazelight's status as a leading developer. Fares clarified the nature of their relationship with EA, emphasizing the publisher's role as a supporter rather than a director of their creative process. "Here’s the thing, people don’t understand this: EA is a supporter. We don’t pitch games to them," he explained. "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, Fares highlighted the positive aspects of their partnership. "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 messing 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 undoubtedly added another chapter to Hazelight's success story. Not only did it receive high praise from critics, earning a 9/10 from IGN, but it also achieved remarkable sales figures. The game sold 1 million copies within the first 48 hours and 2 million copies in just one week, surpassing the sales pace of its predecessor, It Takes Two, which had reached 20 million copies sold by October 2024.
