Josef Fares, the visionary behind Hazelight Studios and the creative force driving the cooperative adventure Split Fiction, recently took the time to connect with fans, addressing past statements and responding to criticisms about his work. One fan mistakenly believed Fares had declared the end of single-player games, but he swiftly corrected this misconception. He highlighted that Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons (2013), a critically acclaimed title from Hazelight, was indeed a single-player experience.

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Fares further elaborated that while Hazelight is renowned for its cooperative gameplay, the studio remains open to the idea of crafting a single-player game similar to their past projects. "We're not excluding it," he affirmed, underscoring Hazelight's willingness to experiment with different gameplay formats in the future.

In response to criticisms about the decision to feature two female protagonists in Split Fiction, Fares addressed concerns about whether this choice was meant to promote feminism or serve a broader agenda. He pointed out the diversity in character pairings across Hazelight's portfolio—from two brothers in Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, to two men in A Way Out, and a male-female duo in It Takes Two. Despite this history, the choice of two women as leads in Split Fiction drew significant attention.

Fares clarified that the characters in Split Fiction were inspired by his own daughters, emphasizing his focus on creating compelling stories and well-developed characters over their biological attributes. "I don’t care what’s between someone’s legs—it’s about crafting great characters," he stated.

Launched today, March 6th, Split Fiction has garnered widespread praise for its innovative gameplay mechanics and diverse scenarios. Prior to its release, Hazelight shared the system requirements, ensuring players are well-informed about what they need to fully experience this latest masterpiece from the studio.