Hazelight Studios, a studio known forA Way OutandIt Takes Two, is just weeks away from the release ofSplit Fiction. Like its predecessors,Split Fictionis a co-op gamethat constantly changes up its mechanics, challenges expectations in fun ways, and puts that fun at the front and center. Many may see Hazelight Studios as just a co-op studio given its release record, but during a recent interview with Game Rant, studio founder Josef Fares said this is not the case.
In fact, Fares also told us that Hazelight Studios is already working on its next game. Of course, most of the studio’s attention right now is on the launch ofSplit Fiction, but as the team works to wrap it up, the studio is beginning work on its next game.
When asked if future games would be co-op, Fares described his studio as the “best in the world” regarding this specific co-op sub-genre championed by Hazelight Studios. Although each game has its twists and turns, that Hazelight DNA can be felt in how each game approaches co-op gameplay andco-op features like the Friend’s Pass. That’s little arguing with that, but Fares also made it clear that fans will see more from Hazelight:
“I mean, I’m kind of spoiling it a little bit, but I’m just saying it’s not only going to be co-op in the future. Co-op will always be part of our DNA, but who knows what happens next?”
Fares stopped short of confirming whether Hazelight’s next game would be co-op or something else entirely, but he did confirm the studio is working on the next game. He compared his confidence inSplit Fiction’s releaseto a workout, describing it as post-workout relief, but also explained they’re ready for what’s next: “That’s how I feel, and now we’re actually focused on the next game. We’ve actually started on the next game.”
This tease is just enough to know that development continues at Hazelight but nothing more. Typically, with most studios, it’s possible to look at their body of work and take a wild shot in the dark that can be somewhat close to what they are working on next, even when it’s a new IP. If co-op is not squarely on the table, that’s not the case for Hazelight Studios.
Fares would not confirm whether Hazelight is working on multiple projects at once or not, but he did outline the one expectationevery fan ofA Way Out, It Takes Two, andSplit Fictioncan have of the studio:
“Let me tell you, Hazelight is going to do some crazy sh*t.”
