Hazelight director Josef Fares has recently clarified his studio's relationship with EA and announced that the team behind It Takes Two and Split Fiction is already diving into their next project. In a candid interview on the Friends Per Second podcast, Fares, known for his outspoken nature (including his memorable "f\*\*\* the Oscars" comment), discussed Hazelight’s journey and future plans. Fans of their latest co-op hit, Split Fiction, will be pleased to know that the studio is already brainstorming early concepts for their next game.
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.’" He emphasized that while Split Fiction has been exceptionally well-received, his focus and excitement are already geared towards the next project, which the team started working on about a month ago. However, due to the early stage of development, specifics about the new title remain under wraps.
Despite the mystery surrounding their upcoming game, Fares assured fans that it won't be long before more details are shared, noting, "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." He reiterated the team's high level of excitement for the new project, emphasizing its early but promising stage.
A Tale of Two Studios
Over the past seven years, Hazelight has collaborated with publisher EA on several successful titles, including A Way Out and It Takes Two, cementing its reputation as a top developer in the gaming industry. Fares clarified that EA's role is purely supportive, with zero influence on Hazelight's creative decisions. "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."
While EA's reputation as a publisher varies, Fares praised their partnership, stating, "With that said, I have to say, they’re a good partner. 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 further solidified Hazelight's success, achieving high critical acclaim with a 9/10 from IGN and selling 1 million copies within 48 hours and 2 million in just one week. This rapid success surpasses even their previous hit, It Takes Two, which had reached 20 million sales by October 2024.
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