Hazelight's Josef Fares Says Single-Player Game is Possible in the Future

Josef Fares, the creative force behind Hazelight Studios and the acclaimed cooperative adventure Split Fiction, recently engaged with fans to address misunderstandings and criticisms surrounding his work. One fan wrongly accused him of proclaiming the death of single-player games, a claim Fares vehemently denied. He pointed to Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons (2013), a critically acclaimed single-player title from Hazelight, as evidence to the contrary.

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Fares clarified that while Hazelight is renowned for its cooperative games, the studio isn't ruling out future single-player titles. "We’re not excluding it," he stated, emphasizing their willingness to explore diverse gameplay styles.

He also addressed 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 existed, the choice of two female leads in Split Fiction sparked unusual controversy.

Fares explained that the characters were inspired by his daughters, emphasizing that his focus remains on strong storytelling and well-developed characters, regardless of gender. "I don’t care what’s between someone’s legs—it’s about crafting great characters," he 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 fully informed before experiencing Hazelight's latest creation.