Hazelight Studios, the team behind the recently launched Split Fiction, has embarked on its next gaming project. The Stockholm-based developer confirmed that work on a new title is in its nascent phase, just two weeks following the successful release of their latest co-op adventure. During a recent interview, Hazelight director Josef Fares expressed his enthusiasm for the studio’s forthcoming game.
Hazelight Initiates Development of Upcoming Title
Fares shared insights about the new project on the Friends Per Second podcast released on Monday. He noted the team’s satisfaction and excitement regarding the positive reception of Split Fiction, but indicated his focus has already shifted to the next endeavor.
“For me, personally, every time a game is out, I’m kind of done with it. I’m kind of like, ‘Okay, now it’s the next thing,’” Fares mentioned during the podcast. He acknowledged that Split Fiction has been particularly well received but emphasized his concentration on the studio’s future projects. “I just want to say that we are already working on the next thing,” he added.
While details regarding the upcoming game remain undisclosed due to its early development stage, Hazelight’s history suggests that the new project may continue the trend of cooperative gameplay. Fares affirmed that co-op elements will always be a fundamental aspect of Hazelight’s identity.
“There’s a reason why I can’t talk about the next game; it’s because it’s quite early,” Fares explained when prompted about the future title. “You do know at Hazelight, we don’t work with games more than three or four years. Three or four years is not so far away. Then we’re going to talk more about it. I can’t talk about it, it’s way too early, but just know this: we are very, very, very, very excited here,” he elaborated.
The director also revealed that the new project commenced development approximately a month ago, just weeks prior to the launch of Split Fiction.
Hazelight and Electronic Arts: A Strong Partnership
Fares also discussed the relationship between Hazelight Studios and its publishing partner, Electronic Arts. All titles from Hazelight, including A Way Out, It Takes Two, and Split Fiction, have been released under the EA Originals label. He mentioned that Hazelight does not pitch new projects to EA but rather informs them of what they plan to create.
“EA is a supporter. We don’t pitch games to them. We say, ‘We’re going to do this.’ That’s it,” Fares clarified. “They have zero, and I mean zero, influence over what we’re doing next.”
Despite skepticism about the company’s reputation, Fares characterized EA as a good partner, affirming their respect for Hazelight’s creative direction. “Now, we have become one of their most successful studios,” he concluded.
Split Fiction debuted on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X on March 6. The game has garnered both critical acclaim and commercial success, becoming the highest-rated game of 2025 on Metacritic and achieving one million sales within the first 48 hours. Last week, Hazelight announced that Split Fiction sold two million copies within its first week on the market.
