Hazelight's director, Josef Fares, recently took the opportunity to clarify his studio's relationship with EA and excitingly announced that the team behind It Takes Two and Split Fiction is already diving into their next project. In an engaging interview on the Friends Per Second podcast, Fares, who is famously known for his bold statement, "f*** the Oscars," shared insights into Hazelight's past achievements and future aspirations.
For fans who relished the studio's latest critically acclaimed co-op adventure, Split Fiction, Fares revealed that the team is brimming with early ideas for their next venture. "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,’" Fares said, reflecting on his mindset post-Split Fiction. He emphasized how special the game's reception has been, noting it as the best-received title Hazelight has produced to date. Yet, his focus swiftly shifted to the excitement surrounding their upcoming project, which has been in the works for about a month.
While Fares remained tight-lipped about the specifics of Hazelight's next title, citing the early stage of development, he assured fans that more details would emerge in the coming years. "There is a reason why I can’t talk about the next game; it’s because it’s quite early," he stated. He highlighted Hazelight's efficient development cycle, typically lasting three to four years, and expressed immense enthusiasm about the new project.
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, further cementing its status as a top developer. Fares clarified that EA's role is purely supportive, with Hazelight maintaining complete creative control. "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 often controversial reputation, Fares praised the publisher for being a positive partner to Hazelight. "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 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 solidified Hazelight's success but also achieved remarkable sales figures. It garnered high praise from critics, with IGN awarding it a 9/10, and sold 1 million copies within 48 hours and 2 million copies in just one week. These numbers surpass the sales pace of its predecessor, It Takes Two, which had reached 20 million copies sold by October 2024.
