Josef Fares Hints at Possible Single-Player Game

Josef Fares, the visionary founder of Hazelight Studios and the creative force behind the cooperative adventure Split Fiction, recently engaged with fans to clarify past statements and address criticisms surrounding his work. A fan accused him of proclaiming the death of single-player games in earlier interviews, but Fares firmly denied making such a claim. He highlighted that Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons (2013), one of Hazelight's most celebrated titles, was a purely single-player experience, underscoring his commitment to diverse gaming experiences.

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Fares further elaborated that while Hazelight is renowned for its cooperative DNA, the possibility of creating a single-player game similar to their previous projects remains open. "We’re not excluding it," he stated, emphasizing the studio’s willingness to explore different gameplay styles in the future.

In addition, Fares addressed criticism regarding the choice of two female protagonists in Split Fiction. Some fans questioned whether this decision promotes feminism or reflects a broader agenda. Fares countered these concerns by pointing out Hazelight’s history of diverse character pairings—two brothers in Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, two men in A Way Out, and a male-female duo in It Takes Two. Despite these precedents, the decision to feature two women as leads in Split Fiction stirred particular controversy.

He emphasized that the characters were inspired by his daughters and reiterated his focus on strong storytelling and well-rounded personalities over biological traits. "I don’t care what’s between someone’s legs—it’s about crafting great characters," Fares remarked, underscoring his commitment to narrative integrity.

Released today, March 6th, Split Fiction has garnered widespread critical acclaim for its innovative gameplay mechanics and varied scenarios. Prior to its launch, system requirements were shared to ensure players are fully prepared to dive into Hazelight's latest masterpiece.