Hazelight director Josef Fares recently provided clarity on his studio's relationship with EA and shared exciting news about their next project. The mastermind behind the memorable "f*** the Oscars" comment discussed Hazelight's journey on the Friends Per Second podcast. Fans of their latest hit, Split Fiction, will be thrilled to learn that the team is already brainstorming ideas for their upcoming 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 highlighted the exceptional reception of Split Fiction, noting it as their best-received game to date. Despite the success, his focus is already shifting to new ventures, with early work on the next title starting just a month ago.

While Fares kept details about Hazelight's upcoming project under wraps due to its early stage, he assured fans that the studio's passion for co-op gaming remains strong. Known for revolutionizing cooperative play, Hazelight's next game will likely continue this trend, though specifics won't be revealed for a few more years. Fares emphasized the studio's quick development cycle, typically spanning 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 EA on several successful titles, including A Way Out and It Takes Two. Fares clarified that EA plays the role of a supportive publisher rather than a creative director, stating, "Here’s the thing, people don’t understand this: EA is a supporter. We don’t pitch games to them. 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 varied reputation in the industry, Fares praised their partnership, saying, "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 cemented its status as another triumph for Hazelight, achieving high critical acclaim with a 9/10 from IGN and selling 1 million copies in just 48 hours, followed by 2 million in one week. This impressive performance outpaces their previous game, It Takes Two, which had sold 20 million copies by October 2024.