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

Hazelight director Josef Fares recently addressed the studio’s relationship with EA and shared exciting news about their next project during an interview on the Friends Per Second podcast. Known for his candid remarks, including the famous “f\*\*\* the Oscars” line, Fares discussed the studio's journey and future plans. Fans of Hazelight's latest critically acclaimed co-op adventure, Split Fiction, will be pleased to know that the team is already brainstorming ideas for their next game.

Fares expressed his typical mindset post-launch, 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. Despite this success, Fares and his team are eagerly moving forward, having started work on their next project about a month ago.

While Fares kept details about the upcoming game under wraps due to its early stage, he assured fans that more information would be forthcoming in the next few years. “There is a reason why I can’t talk about the next game; it’s because it’s quite early,” he explained. He emphasized Hazelight's typical development timeline, which ranges from three to four years, and expressed immense excitement about the new project.

A Tale of Two Studios

Over the past seven years, Hazelight has collaborated with publisher EA on multiple titles, including A Way Out and It Takes Two, cementing its reputation as a top developer. Fares clarified that EA acts solely as a supporter, with no say in the creative decisions of Hazelight’s projects. “Here’s the thing, people don’t understand this: EA is a supporter. We don’t pitch games to them,” he said. “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 contentious reputation, Fares praised his experience with the publisher, emphasizing their respect for Hazelight’s autonomy. “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 received high praise from critics, with IGN giving it a 9/10, but it has also achieved remarkable commercial success. The game sold 1 million copies within 48 hours and reached 2 million copies in just one week, outpacing the sales of its predecessor, It Takes Two, which had sold 20 million copies by October 2024.