Josef Fares, the visionary behind Hazelight Studios and the creative force driving the cooperative adventure game Split Fiction, recently took time to engage directly with fans, addressing past statements and responding to critiques about his work. Contrary to some fans' claims, Fares clarified that he never declared the death of single-player games. He reminded the community of Hazelight's critically acclaimed title, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons (2013), which is a purely single-player experience.
Image: comicbook.com
Fares elaborated on Hazelight's future direction, affirming that while the studio is renowned for its cooperative gameplay, the possibility of creating a single-player game similar to their past works remains open. "We’re not excluding it," he emphasized, underscoring the studio's willingness to explore diverse gameplay styles moving forward.
In response to criticism regarding the choice of two female protagonists in Split Fiction, Fares addressed concerns about whether this decision was motivated by a feminist agenda or broader ideological stance. He pointed out Hazelight's history of featuring varied character pairings, from the two brothers in Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, to the two male leads in A Way Out, and the male-female duo in It Takes Two. Despite this track record, the decision to feature two women as leads in Split Fiction drew significant attention and controversy.
Fares was quick to clarify that the characters were inspired by his own daughters and that his focus is on creating compelling stories and well-developed characters, rather than emphasizing biological attributes. "I don’t care what’s between someone’s legs—it’s about crafting great characters," he stated firmly.
Split Fiction, which was released on March 6th, has received widespread critical acclaim for its innovative gameplay mechanics and diverse scenarios. Prior to its launch, the game's system requirements were made public, ensuring that players could prepare their setups to fully immerse themselves in Hazelight's latest masterpiece.
