But Leaks Revealed Something as Good as The GOTY Winner is Coming

In the world of co-op gaming, few studios have made as big an impact in recent years as Hazelight. With their breakout hit A Way Out in 2018 and the Game of the Year winner It Takes Two in 2021, director Josef Fares and his team have proven themselves masters of the split-screen experience.

But while fans have been clamoring for a sequel to It Takes Two, it seems that Hazelight has something else up their sleeves. And if recent leaks are to be believed, it could be every bit as exciting as their previous titles.

A Cryptic Tease from Josef Fares

The hype train started rolling last week when Fares took to Twitter to respond to fan questions about Hazelight‘s next project.

In typical Fares fashion, he didn’t give much away, but what he did say was enough to get the internet buzzing:

Getting a lot of questions about the next game. Here is a tease. It is a BRAND NEW IP called S**** ******N. Can’t wait to show it soon🔥

— Josef Fares (@josef_fares) October 17, 2024

Hazelight Studios was quick to join in on the fun, retweeting Fares’ message with a cryptic image of their own:

Now that you mention it, think you dropped this in the office @josef_fares? pic.twitter.com/oWv3Eew4M9

— Hazelight Studios (@HazelightGames) October 17, 2024

From these tweets, we can glean a few key details. First, the game is a brand new IP, not a sequel to either A Way Out or It Takes Two. Second, it’s being published under the EA Originals banner, just like the studio’s previous titles. And third—most obviously—the name seems to start with an “S” and end with an “N.”

Split Fiction: The Next Evolution of Co-Op Gaming?

But the real bombshell came a few days later, courtesy of reliable leaker billbil-kun. According to their report, Hazelight’s new game is called Split Fiction, and it’s been in development for “at least two years.”

While details are still scarce, billbil-kun speculates that Split Fiction will “totally redefine” the split-screen feature, moving beyond the simple vertical split used in A Way Out and It Takes Two to something more “dynamic.” Of course, both of those games did feature some segments with more creative screen-splitting, so it remains to be seen just how revolutionary this new approach will be.

Still, the prospect of the devs taking their co-op formula to the next level is undeniably exciting. With their track record of delivering emotionally resonant stories and inventive gameplay mechanics, this next game could just be another genre-defining hit!

And with the studio’s 10th anniversary coming up in November, we may not have to wait long to find out more. Hazelight has already promised that they’ve “got new (real good) stuff cooking” that they’ll “talk more about later this year,” so a formal reveal must be just around the corner.

In the meantime, all we can do is speculate and dream about the co-op adventures that await us in Split Fiction. Will we be playing as the mysterious “Mio” and “Zoe” hinted at in the “leaked” documents? Are they the speculated mother-daughter duo that Fares revealed the actors for all the way back in 2022? Will the “dynamic split-screen” allow for even more creative puzzle-solving and storytelling? Only time will tell.

But one thing’s for sure: if Split Fiction is even half as good as It Takes Two, we’re in for a treat. So grab a friend, get your couch ready, and prepare for the next evolution of co-op gaming!

What do you think Split Fiction will be about? Are you excited to see what Hazelight Studios has in store for us? Let us know in the comments below!