Hazelight nennt EA „guten Partner“ für neues Spiel

Hazelight Studios’ latest chapter, marked by the explosive success of Split Fiction, is already being shaped by the studio’s unmistakable creative fire — and director Josef Fares is not slowing down.

With a release cycle that’s both ambitious and fiercely independent, Hazelight continues to defy industry norms. Their partnership with EA — long seen as a potential contradiction given EA’s broader reputation — has, according to Fares, been built on mutual respect, not control.

"We don't pitch ideas to them for approval. We simply state, 'We're making this.' That's it."

That line captures the heart of Hazelight’s ethos: creative sovereignty. While EA has provided financial backing and global distribution for A Way Out, It Takes Two, and now Split Fiction, the studio has maintained absolute autonomy over narrative, gameplay, and tone. As Fares put it:

"They have zero—and I mean zero—say in what we decide to create next."

And yet, he’s not blind to the skepticism. Fans and critics alike often assume that a publisher like EA must exert influence, especially on a title as ambitious and emotionally driven as Split Fiction. But Fares stands firm:

"I've been very clear that they cannot interfere, and we've since become one of their most successful studios."

That success isn’t just financial — it’s cultural. Split Fiction’s 2 million sales in under a week, a record-breaking launch that outpaced even It Takes Two’s historic 20 million copies sold by 2024, speaks to a growing hunger for emotionally resonant, co-op-driven storytelling. The game’s narrative depth, player-driven mechanics, and genre-blurring ambition have cemented Hazelight as pioneers of a new kind of video game — one that feels less like entertainment and more like shared human experience.

But for all the praise, the real story lies ahead.

Fares confirmed that conceptual work on the next Hazelight title began just a month ago — a relatively early stage in a development cycle that, he notes, rarely exceeds three to four years. That means we’re likely looking at a 2027 or 2028 release window, which gives fans time to savor Split Fiction’s legacy while holding their breath for what’s next.

What will it be? No details. No hints. Not even a whisper of genre, premise, or name.

But what is clear is the energy behind it.

"I'm already completely focused and energized by the new project we've begun."

That kind of passion doesn’t lie. And if Hazelight’s past work is any guide — from the raw emotional power of It Takes Two to the psychological depth of Split Fiction — then the next chapter might not just break new ground. It might redefine what a video game can be.

So while we wait, one truth stands out:

Hazelight isn’t chasing trends. They’re making games that matter — and after seven years of pushing boundaries, they’re just getting started.

🎙️ “There's a reason I can't discuss the next game — it's simply too early.”
But we can’t wait.