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Hazelight’s Josef Fares Defends EA, Says Partnership Protects Creative Freedom

The director argues EA is unfairly maligned, citing a smooth collaboration on recent hits.

Overview

  • In a new interview, Fares says EA “gets more criticism than it deserves” and calls Hazelight’s relationship with the publisher “a super good collaboration.”
  • He describes EA colleagues as gamers who respect Hazelight’s process, asserting the studio will continue to make the games it wants.
  • EA has published all three Hazelight titles to date: A Way Out, It Takes Two, and Split Fiction.
  • Split Fiction launched in March 2025 and sold roughly 4 million copies within about two months, with reviews praising its visuals and noting mechanical similarities to It Takes Two.
  • Fares also claims Hazelight’s next game will surpass Split Fiction, presenting it as his confidence in the team’s creative-first approach.