Josef Fares, creator of the renowned cooperative games It Takes Two and SplitFiction, surprised by officially announcing that Hazelight Studios is already working on its new project.This announcement comes after the great success of SplitFiction, which broke sales records and consolidated Hazelight Studios as a fundamental reference within the cooperative genre.
It Takes Two brought Hazelight Studios and its founder Josef Fares to international recognition, but it was Split Fiction that exceeded all expectations.Released in 2025, Split Fiction sold two million copies in just one week, of which one million were placed in the first 48 hours of its release.These results significantly boosted Hazelight Studios’ reputation and benefited EA, the game’s publisher, which highlighted Split Fiction’s performance in its Q4 2025 financial report.
Hazelight Studios’ success lies in its formula of original cooperative gameplay, emotional narratives and unconventional mechanics that challenge the established rules of the genre.Its reception marked an important point in the industry and considerably raised expectations regarding the studio’s future releases.
Confirmation of the development of the new project came through a publication on the social networkEach of them raises only one arm, which quickly led fans to think that the new game could have a cooperative mode for three players.
The official Hazelight Studios account also joined in with messages referring to the fact that they are “back in the kitchen” preparing “something very delicious” and mentioning in code the “Strategic Arm Placement Technique.”These insinuations have provoked theories in social networks about possible significant changes in the cooperative dynamics that characterize the study, which could lead to a renewal of the genre.
Josef Fares and Hazelight Studios’ strategy to activate community interest through hints and comments has been effective.Since the publication of the photograph, various networks and forums have seen a proliferation of speculations, memes and even proposals for titles.This reaction not only highlights the expectation generated by the studio’s projects, but also the level of commitment and enthusiasm among its followers.
The Hazelight Studios phenomenon illustrates how commercial successes generate additional pressure and increase interest in future projects, raising the bar for both the studio itself and its competitors.In addition, it consolidates the trend towards cooperative games focused on narrative and shared experiences, a proposal that has especially benefited those who enjoy video games as a couple, groups of friends or family.
