Josef Fares, the creative force behind Hazelight Studios and the acclaimed cooperative adventure Split Fiction, recently addressed fan inquiries and criticisms surrounding his work. One fan misinterpreted past interviews, alleging Fares had declared the death of single-player games. Fares clarified this was inaccurate, citing Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons (2013), a purely single-player title and one of Hazelight's most successful games, as evidence.
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While Hazelight is known for its cooperative focus, Fares confirmed that future single-player projects aren't ruled out. "We’re not excluding it," he stated, emphasizing the studio's willingness to explore diverse gameplay styles.
Fares also responded to criticism regarding Split Fiction's two female protagonists. Some questioned whether this choice was a deliberate feminist statement or part of a broader agenda. Fares countered this by highlighting the diverse pairings in Hazelight's previous games: two brothers in Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, two men in A Way Out, and a male-female duo in It Takes Two. While these precedents exist, the choice of two female leads in Split Fiction sparked unique controversy.
He explained that the characters were inspired by his daughters, emphasizing his focus on strong narratives and well-developed personalities over biological characteristics. "I don’t care what’s between someone’s legs—it’s about crafting great characters," Fares stated.
Released on March 6th, Split Fiction has received widespread critical acclaim for its innovative gameplay and diverse scenarios. System requirements were released pre-launch, ensuring players were well-informed before experiencing Hazelight's latest creation.