The gaming world is shaking again with the launch of the latest project from talented director Josef Fares and his team at Hazelight Studios. After the success of A Way Out and It Takes Two, Fares now presents Split Fiction, a collaborative game that offers an immersive story experience and unique gameplay mechanics.
Fares shares his views on the creative process, development hurdles, and the special vision underlying the game. Accessible on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and via the EA App, Split Fiction has already garnered great attention from gaming enthusiasts around the world.
Stories about Friendship in Split Fiction Game
Fares revealed that the essence of the Split Fiction game lies in the relationship of friendship. The game narrates the journey of Mio and Zoe, two writers who have contrasting characters and genre tastes. Mio is the introverted type, while Zoe is more open and social. These personality differences create interesting dynamics in the storyline.
“This is a story about two very different individuals trying to find a way to connect with each other,” says Fares. “This journey will bring Mio and Zoe many surprises, and in order to get through them, they need to support each other.”
Mio and Zoe will encounter a variety of unique and astonishing situations as they develop stories that stem from their creative imaginations. Most importantly, they will live it together.
Fares hopes that players can realize that even though we feel very different from each other, at our core, we have a lot in common that we don’t realize.
Split Fiction Combines Interesting Genres
One of the main attractions of Split Fiction games is the merging of the sci-fi and fantasy genres. Fares revealed that the original idea of the game was to bring the two genres together in an innovative way. His research shows that there are still few works in the video game world that combine sci-fi and fantasy in a similar method.
Fares stated that while there are elements such as parallel universes in some of the works, none are as unique as their ideas, especially in video games. He emphasized that innovation and development are at the core of Hazelight.
Fares is excited to see how players will respond to the final level of Split Fiction, which he says presents a unique experience unlike any other in the world of video games. He feels very proud of what his team has achieved in this project.
In terms of the development process, Fares explained that Hazelight Studios has grown into a more professional and skilled team since the launch of their last title in 2021. They have improved the quality of their engineering through better tools and game engines, as well as the way they organize different aspects of the development process.
Developing a Split Fiction game faces the challenge of gameplay variety. With so many different mechanics, keeping the game smooth and fun was difficult. However, Fares believes his team has managed to overcome this challenge and create a great game.
Freaky Weeks as an Idea Tool at Studio Hazelight
One of the highlights of Hazelight Studios is the freaky weeks, which are gaming sessions held informally. All team members, regardless of their job title, have the opportunity to contribute ideas and prototype games.
Fares emphasized that every idea is valued at Hazelight, and freaky weeks serve as a means to encourage innovation and creativity.
“All ideas are welcome at Hazelight,” says Fares. “Freaky Weeks gives everyone on the team the opportunity to be creative without limits and explore their ideas. It’s not just designers who get involved, but also programmers, animators, and even janitors. No one is restricted.”
