Hazelight Praises EA Amid New Game Dev

Hazelight director Josef Fares has addressed rumors about his studio's partnership with EA, confirming they're already developing their next major title following the success of It Takes Two and Split Fiction.

The outspoken creator - famous for his viral "Oscars rant" - discussed Hazelight's evolution and upcoming projects on the Friends Per Second podcast. While remaining tight-lipped about specifics, Fares hinted that the team has begun conceptualizing their next cooperative gaming experience.

"Personally, once a game ships, I'm immediately looking ahead," Fares revealed when reflecting on Split Fiction's launch. "This project has been exceptionally well-received - our best-performing title yet. But honestly, while the team celebrates, my focus has already shifted to our exciting new venture that's underway."

Fares remained guarded about details regarding Hazelight's mysterious next project, acknowledging development only commenced recently. Though renowned for revolutionizing cooperative gameplay, fans may need to wait several years before seeing how the studio plans to surpass Split Fiction.

"There's good reason I can't disclose much - we're extremely early in development," Fares admitted. "Hazelight typically completes projects within three to four years. While that timeline isn't far off, it's premature for specifics. Just know our entire team is incredibly enthusiastic - we initiated development about a month ago."

A Tale of Two Studios

Despite collaborating with EA on multiple titles over seven years, including acclaimed games like A Way Out and It Takes Two, Fares emphasized EA maintains zero creative control over Hazelight's projects.

"There's a crucial distinction people misunderstand - EA supports us financially but doesn't dictate our creative direction," Fares clarified. "We present our vision to them, that's final. They have absolutely no say in our development choices or future projects."

While EA's publisher reputation varies across the industry, Fares praised their working relationship as Hazelight prepares its next groundbreaking title.

"Let me be clear - EA has been an excellent partner despite public perception," Fares continued. "Their approach with us differs completely - they respect our creative autonomy. We've established clear boundaries, and as one of their most successful developers, they understand our process."

Split Fiction has undoubtedly cemented Hazelight's industry standing, achieving both critical acclaim (including IGN's 9/10 review) and exceptional commercial success. The game surpassed 1 million sales in two days and doubled that figure within a week - outpacing their previous hit It Takes Two's early performance.