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

Hazelight's director, Josef Fares, recently shed light on his studio's relationship with EA and announced that the team behind It Takes Two and Split Fiction is already working on their next game. In an engaging interview on the Friends Per Second podcast, Fares, known for his candid remarks including the infamous "f*** the Oscars" line, discussed the studio's past achievements and future plans. For fans of Split Fiction, Hazelight's latest critically acclaimed co-op adventure, Fares revealed that the team has begun exploring early ideas for their next project.

Fares 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 emphasized the exceptional reception of Split Fiction, noting it as the best-received game Hazelight has produced to date. Despite the success, Fares and his team are already deeply invested in their next endeavor, which they started about a month ago.

While Fares kept details about the new game under wraps, he hinted at the studio's excitement and commitment to delivering another innovative co-op experience. He mentioned, "There is a reason why I can’t talk about the next game; it’s because it’s quite early. 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." The anticipation builds as Hazelight aims to continue its legacy in the co-op gaming space.

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 clarified the nature of their relationship, 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 in the gaming industry, Fares praised their partnership, emphasizing EA's respect for Hazelight's creative autonomy.

Fares added, "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 reinforced Hazelight's reputation for excellence but also achieved remarkable commercial success. The game garnered high praise, earning a 9/10 from IGN's review, and sold 1 million copies within 48 hours of release, reaching 2 million copies in just one week. These figures surpass the sales of It Takes Two, which had sold 20 million copies by October 2024, underscoring Hazelight's continued growth and impact in the gaming world.