Hazelight's director, Josef Fares, has recently provided clarity on his studio's relationship with EA and shared exciting news about their upcoming projects. In a candid interview on the Friends Per Second podcast, Fares, known for his bold statement, "the infamous 'f\*\*\* the Oscars' line," discussed the studio's journey and future endeavors. Fans of their latest critically acclaimed co-op adventure, Split Fiction, will be thrilled to learn that Hazelight is already brainstorming ideas for their next game.
Fares expressed his forward-thinking mindset, 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 remains firmly on the future, with early work on their next project already underway, just a month after Split Fiction's release.
While Fares kept details about the new game under wraps, citing the project's infancy, he assured fans that more information would be forthcoming. "There is a reason why I can’t talk about the next game; it’s because it’s quite early," he explained. "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." Despite the early stage, Fares emphasized the team's high level of excitement and anticipation for this new venture.
A Tale of Two Studios
Over the past seven years, Hazelight has collaborated with EA on multiple titles, including A Way Out and It Takes Two, cementing its status as a top developer in the gaming industry. Fares clarified the nature of their relationship with EA, stating, "Here’s the thing, people don’t understand this: EA is a supporter. We don’t pitch games to them. 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 varied reputation as a publisher, Fares praised their partnership, noting, "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 not only received high praise from critics, earning a 9/10 in IGN's review, but it has also achieved remarkable commercial success. The game sold 1 million copies within the first 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.
Latest Downloads
Downlaod
Top News
