"Hazelight's Josef Fares Hints at Future Single-Player Game"

Josef Fares, the visionary behind Hazelight Studios and the creator of the cooperative adventure Split Fiction, recently took the opportunity to engage with fans and clarify previous statements while addressing criticisms about his work. Contrary to a fan's accusation, Fares firmly denied ever claiming that single-player games are dead. He cited Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons (2013), a critically acclaimed title from Hazelight, as evidence of his commitment to single-player experiences.

Image: comicbook.com

Fares elaborated that despite Hazelight's reputation for cooperative gameplay, the studio remains open to exploring single-player games in the future. "We’re not excluding it," he affirmed, signaling Hazelight's willingness to venture into different gameplay formats.

Moreover, Fares addressed the controversy surrounding the inclusion of two female protagonists in Split Fiction. Some fans speculated whether this choice was a nod to feminism or indicative of a larger agenda. Fares countered this by pointing to Hazelight's history of diverse character pairings—from the two brothers in Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, to the male duo in A Way Out, and the male-female partnership in It Takes Two. Despite these varied precedents, the decision to feature two women as leads in Split Fiction drew significant attention.

He clarified that the characters were inspired by his own daughters and stressed his focus on crafting compelling narratives and well-developed characters, rather than emphasizing physical attributes. "I don’t care what’s between someone’s legs—it’s about crafting great characters," Fares stated.

Split Fiction, released on March 6th, has garnered widespread critical acclaim for its innovative gameplay mechanics and diverse scenarios. Prior to its launch, system requirements were made available, ensuring that players are well-informed about the hardware needed to experience Hazelight's latest masterpiece.