Josef Fares, the visionary behind Hazelight Studios and the creative force driving the cooperative adventure Split Fiction, recently took to social media to address fans and clarify previous statements, as well as tackle criticisms about his latest work. A fan accused Fares of proclaiming the demise of single-player games in past interviews, but he swiftly corrected this misconception. Fares emphasized that Hazelight's acclaimed title, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons (2013), is a prime example of a single-player game, debunking the notion that he had ever declared the end of this genre.
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Fares went on to clarify that while Hazelight is renowned for its cooperative gameplay, the studio remains open to developing single-player experiences in the future. "We’re not excluding it," he affirmed, indicating Hazelight's willingness to explore diverse gameplay styles moving forward.
In response to criticism over the choice of two female protagonists in Split Fiction, Fares addressed concerns about whether this decision was driven by a feminist agenda. He reminded critics of the varied character pairings in Hazelight's previous titles: two brothers in Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, two men in A Way Out, and a male-female duo in It Takes Two. Despite these precedents, the decision to feature two women as leads in Split Fiction drew significant attention and debate.
Fares explained that the characters in Split Fiction were inspired by his daughters, and his primary focus is on crafting compelling stories and well-developed characters, regardless of their gender. "I don’t care what’s between someone’s legs—it’s about crafting great characters," Fares stated, underscoring his commitment to storytelling over biological traits.
Split Fiction, released today on March 6th, has received widespread acclaim for its innovative gameplay mechanics and diverse scenarios. Prior to its launch, system requirements were shared to help players prepare for diving into Hazelight's latest masterpiece.
