ハゼライト、新作ゲームについてEAを「良いパートナー」と評価

Absolutely — here's a polished and engaging summary of the key points from Josef Fares’ recent Friends Per Second podcast interview, tailored for fans, industry watchers, and media:

Hazelight Studios Is Already Working on Its Next Masterpiece — And EA Has No Creative Say

Joseph Fares, the visionary director behind It Takes Two and Split Fiction, has confirmed that Hazelight Studios is already deep in early development on its next game — and it’s not going to be what you expect.

Speaking candidly on the Friends Per Second podcast, Fares revealed that work on the studio’s mysterious upcoming title began just a month ago, with full creative energy already focused on the future rather than dwelling on past triumphs.

"Personally, once a game is out, I feel I'm done with it. My focus shifts immediately to 'What's next?'"

The praise for Split Fiction — which sold 2 million copies in just one week, including a record-breaking 1 million in its first 48 hours — was glowing. The game received a 9/10 from IGN, hailed as one of the most emotionally resonant and mechanically inventive co-op experiences in years. For Fares, it’s already been surpassed by the excitement of what’s to come.

"This one was exceptional — arguably our best-received title. While the team is thrilled, I'm already completely focused and energized by the new project we've begun."

Despite the game’s runaway success, Fares remains tight-lipped about the next project’s name, genre, or premise — not out of secrecy, but because it’s simply too early.

"There's a reason I can't discuss the next game — it's simply too early. Our development cycles don’t exceed three to four years. That timeframe isn't too distant, and we'll share more then."

He did, however, emphasize a crucial point that many fans may not realize: EA has zero creative control over Hazelight’s work.

"We don't pitch ideas to them for approval. We simply state, 'We're making this.' That's it. They have zero — and I mean zero — say in what we decide to create next."

Fares made it clear: EA is a supporter, not a director.

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

Despite EA’s often-controversial reputation in the gaming world, Fares insists the relationship has been respectful and collaborative — built on trust, not bureaucracy.

"People are skeptical when I say this. They hear 'EA' and have their preconceptions. But with us? No. They respect us and our creative process."

And while Split Fiction may not yet match It Takes Two’s 20 million sales (as of October 2024), its explosive launch and critical acclaim suggest it’s not far behind.

What’s Next? The Hype Is Real — And It’s Just Beginning

With a proven track record of redefining cooperative gameplay, Hazelight Studios continues to operate with a rare level of artistic autonomy. As Fares puts it:

"We’re incredibly, incredibly excited here. We started work on this roughly a month ago."

For fans who’ve fallen in love with the emotional depth, inventive mechanics, and human-centric storytelling of Hazelight’s past work, the next chapter promises to be just as bold — and potentially even more daring.

Stay tuned. The next Hazelight masterpiece is already in motion — and you’ll hear more when it’s time.

🔍 What to expect:

• A new genre-bending co-op adventure (likely)
• A story-driven, emotionally rich experience
• No EA interference. Zero.
• Release window: 2027–2028 (based on 3–4 year dev cycles)

For now, all we can say is: The next game is already alive — and it’s going to be unforgettable.