Split Fiction Dev Calls EA a 'Good Partner' as Hazelight Begins Work on Next Game

Hazelight director Josef Fares recently clarified his studio's relationship with EA and revealed that development on their next game is underway. In an interview on the Friends Per Second podcast, Fares, known for his memorable "f** the Oscars" comment, discussed Hazelight's past, present, and future. Regarding the critically acclaimed Split Fiction*, he stated the team is already brainstorming ideas for their next project.

He explained his post-release mentality: "For me, personally, every time a game is out, I’m kind of done with it. But Split Fiction has been extra special. It’s our best-received game, and while everyone’s happy, I’m fully focused on the next thing, which we’ve already started."

Hazelight and EA: A Collaborative Partnership

Fares addressed Hazelight's seven-year partnership with EA, emphasizing EA's supportive role: "People don’t understand: 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 input on what we’re doing next."

Despite EA's sometimes controversial reputation, Fares described a positive experience: "They’re a good partner. 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's success further solidified Hazelight's position. The game achieved high critical acclaim (including a 9/10 from IGN) and impressive sales figures—1 million copies in 48 hours and 2 million in a week—surpassing even the initial sales pace of It Takes Two, which ultimately sold 20 million copies by October 2024.