Hazelight Studios Director Praises EA Partnership While Announcing New Project in Development

Josef Fares, the outspoken director of Hazelight Studios, has confirmed that development on the studio’s next game is already underway, while also sharing surprisingly positive comments about the studio’s relationship with publishing giant Electronic Arts. Speaking on the Friends Per Second podcast, Fares—perhaps best known for his infamous “f*** the Oscars” moment—discussed how the team behind the critically acclaimed co-op adventure Split Fiction is already moving forward with new creative endeavors.

Despite acknowledging that Split Fiction has been “the best-received game we have done,” he admitted his attention has already shifted: “I’m so fully-focused and excited on the next thing that we already have started.”

While Fares remained tight-lipped about specific details regarding the new project, he confirmed that development only began approximately one month ago. “There is a reason why I can’t talk about the next game; it’s because it’s quite early,” he noted, though he did hint at the studio’s typical development timeline: “At Hazelight, we don’t work on [a] game more than three or four years.”

Perhaps most surprising were Fares’ candid comments regarding Hazelight’s relationship with EA, challenging the publisher’s often-criticized reputation in the gaming industry. “Here’s the thing, people don’t understand this: EA is a supporter. We don’t pitch games to them,” Fares emphasized. “We say, ‘We’re going to do this.’ That’s it. They have zero, and I mean zero, thing to say about what we’re doing next.”

Despite public perception, Fares was adamant about his positive experience: “With that said, I have to say, they’re a good partner. Nobody believes me… Look, I don’t know anything about what EA are doing. Maybe they’re f***ing up with other developers. With us, no. They respect us.”

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