"Hazelight Praises EA as 'Good Partner' Amid Next Game Development"

Hazelight director Josef Fares recently shed light on his studio's relationship with EA and teased that the team behind It Takes Two and Split Fiction is already in the early stages of developing their next game. During an engaging interview on the Friends Per Second podcast, the man known for his bold declaration of "f*** the Oscars" discussed the studio's journey, current projects, and what lies ahead.

For fans who loved Split Fiction, Hazelight's latest critically acclaimed co-op adventure, Fares revealed that the team is brimming with fresh ideas. He shared his personal approach to game development, 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.’" He highlighted the exceptional reception of Split Fiction, noting it as the best-received game Hazelight has produced to date. However, his focus and excitement are already directed toward the next project, which the studio started working on approximately a month ago.

While Fares remained tight-lipped about the specifics of Hazelight's upcoming game, he emphasized the studio's reputation for innovative co-op experiences. He acknowledged that it's still early days, and fans might have to wait a few more years before learning more about how Hazelight plans to follow up Split Fiction. "There is a reason why I can’t talk about the next game; it’s because it’s quite early," Fares explained. He added that Hazelight typically works on a game for three to four years, hinting that more details will be shared as the project progresses. The excitement within the studio is palpable, with Fares stressing just how thrilled the team is about the new venture.

A Tale of Two Studios

Over the past seven years, Hazelight has collaborated with publisher EA on multiple titles. Despite EA's sometimes controversial reputation, Fares insists that the relationship has been fruitful and devoid of interference. "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." Fares praised EA as a good partner, emphasizing that the publisher respects Hazelight's creative autonomy. This partnership has contributed to Hazelight's success, making it one of EA's top-performing studios.

Split Fiction has not only solidified Hazelight's reputation but also achieved remarkable commercial success. The game garnered high praise from critics, with IGN awarding it a 9/10 in their review. It also set impressive sales records, selling 1 million copies within the first 48 hours and reaching 2 million copies sold in just one week. These figures outpace those of its predecessor, It Takes Two, which had sold 20 million copies by October 2024.