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

Hazelight director Josef Fares recently clarified his studio's relationship with EA and shared exciting news about their next project following the success of It Takes Two and Split Fiction. In a candid interview on the Friends Per Second podcast, Fares, known for his bold statements like "f*** the Oscars," discussed Hazelight's journey and future plans. Fans of Split Fiction, the studio's latest critically acclaimed co-op adventure, will be thrilled to know that Hazelight is already brainstorming ideas for their next game.

Fares expressed his forward-thinking approach, 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 the best-received game they've created, his focus has swiftly shifted to the excitement of their upcoming project. Although Hazelight began working on this new title just a month ago, Fares is brimming with enthusiasm but kept details under wraps due to the project's early stage.

"There is a reason why I can’t talk about the next game; it’s because it’s quite early," Fares noted. He reassured fans that Hazelight typically completes games within three to four years, hinting that more information will be available soon. "It’s way too early, but just know this: we are very, very, very, very excited here. Very excited, and we started working on this a month ago-ish."

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. Despite EA's mixed reputation, Fares emphasized that the publisher has been a supportive partner, giving Hazelight complete creative freedom. "Here’s the thing, people don’t understand this: EA is a supporter. We don’t pitch games to them," Fares 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."

Fares praised EA's hands-off approach, 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 not only received high praise from critics, earning a 9/10 from IGN, but it has also seen remarkable commercial success. The game sold 1 million copies within 48 hours and 2 million copies in just one week, surpassing the sales pace of It Takes Two, which had sold 20 million copies by October 2024. This success underscores Hazelight's position as a leading developer in the gaming industry.