After being revealed during 2024’s The Game Awards and given a release date in early 2025, player expectations may already be high for Hazelight Studios' next upcoming co-op game,Split Fiction. With Hazelight Studios' first game,It Takes Two, winning The Game Awards' prestigious Game of the Year in 2021, it was arguably a smart move for the developer to announce its next game,Split Fiction, during 2024’s awards show to garner players' attention. But now expectations have been set forSplit Fictionas the game builds on Hazelight Studios' co-op formula fromA Way OutandIt Takes Two.
However, betweenSplit Fiction’s official announcement in December 2024and its release date confirmed for March 2025, this doesn’t appear to leave much time for Hazelight Studios to build hype around the upcoming game. As a result, players could expect to see a surge in updates aboutSplit Fictionahead of its launch to provide new information about the game, fill in any blanks players might still have, and ultimately generate interest leading up to its release.
Split Fiction Will Be a New Direction for Hazelight Studios
Based on Hazelight Studios' previous games,Split Fictionis primed to follow the same co-op formula the developer has become known for. Though some players may be more familiar with Hazelight Studios thanks to its second game,It Takes Two, winning Game of the Year in 2021, the developer has explored the potential for co-op gameplay and two-player storytelling since its first game,A Way Out. These games could offer players some insight into what to expect from the studio’s upcomingSplit Fiction, but Hazelight Studios' next game could be a blend of both as the developer ventures into new territory.
For instance,A Way Outwas a more realistic and grounded experience than the studio’s objectively more fantasticalIt Takes Two, whereasSplit Fictionappears to strike a balance between the two. Based on the gameplay trailer revealed during 2024’s The Game Awards and commentary made by Hazelight Studios' Director, Josef Fares,Split Fictionwill combine both science fiction and fantasy through its protagonists trapped within a simulation—how farSplit Fictiontakes this hybridization of genresand what the game’s larger story will be may still be unclear ahead of its launch.
Split Fiction is Expected to Stay True To Hazelight Studios' Formula
WhileSplit Fictionmay be taking a new direction from Hazelight Studios' previous games in terms of tone and story, the core of its co-op gameplay seems like it will stay true to the developer’s current format. For example,Fares outlined duringSplit Fiction’s trailerthat, similar toIt Takes Two, will feature unique mechanics exclusive to each level requiring players to work together, such as raising fantasy-based dragons or donning sci-fi suits. Moreover, Fares confirmed thatSplit Fictionwill continue to use the Friends Pass, meaning players can expect to share the gameplay experience with a friend.
Players Should Expect to Learn More Before Split Fiction’s Release
Despite expectations thatSplit Fictionwon’t stray far from Hazelight Studios' existing co-op approach, the upcoming game could still break new ground with its story, especially given that its trailer focused more on gameplay than narrative. Therefore, with an impending March 6 release date, players couldexpect to hear Fictionover the coming months, such as revealing more details about the game’s story, its protagonists Zoe and Mio, or its CEO antagonist of Rader Publishing. This could even include a more fleshed-out story trailer or a more in-depth gameplay demo showcasing a few ofSplit Fiction’s earliest levels.
