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

Josef Fares, the visionary behind Hazelight Studios and the creative force driving the cooperative adventure Split Fiction, recently took to social media to set the record straight on various fan concerns and criticisms. In response to a fan's accusation that he had declared the demise of single-player games, Fares clarified that he had never made such a statement. He proudly pointed to Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons (2013), a critically acclaimed title from Hazelight, which offered a deeply immersive single-player experience.

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Fares further elaborated on Hazelight's future direction, stating that while the studio is renowned for its cooperative gameplay, exploring single-player experiences similar to their previous works is still a possibility. "We’re not excluding it," he affirmed, underlining the studio's willingness to delve into various gameplay styles moving forward.

Addressing another point of contention, Fares tackled the backlash against Split Fiction's choice of two female protagonists. Some fans speculated about the promotion of feminism or an underlying agenda. Fares, however, reminded critics of Hazelight's history of featuring 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 this variety, the decision to feature two female leads in Split Fiction drew particular scrutiny.

Fares clarified that the characters were inspired by his daughters and emphasized his focus on crafting compelling stories and well-developed characters over their biological traits. "I don’t care what’s between someone’s legs—it’s about crafting great characters," he stated firmly.

Split Fiction, released today on March 6th, has garnered widespread critical acclaim for its groundbreaking gameplay mechanics and diverse scenarios. Prior to its launch, Hazelight shared detailed system requirements, ensuring that players are well-prepared to immerse themselves in this latest masterpiece from the studio.