The founder of Hazelight Studios, Josef Fares, doesn’t hold back his opinions; he thinks EA catches too much hate from gamers. In a recent interview with The Game Business, the director behind co-op games like A Way Out, It Takes Two, and last year’s Split Fiction just laid it out straight.
“Let’s be honest, there’s not a publisher in the world that hasn’t fucked up now and then. Sometimes I feel that EA is getting more shit than they deserve. I mean, come on, Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony, everybody’s done something that’s not good. But for some reason, EA has become this bad guy.”
The relationship between EA and Hazelight Studios goes way back to 2018, partnering to create their own niche of co-op games in the industry. He makes it clear that if the partnership wasn’t good, he’d say so. Instead, he calls the EA team “real gamers”, people who appreciate player-first ideas and give room for creativity to breathe. Of course, there are always nuances to such things, as seen with FC 26‘s harsh reputation.
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Hazelight’s Impressive Track Record
Hazelight Studios doesn’t run after the latest trends; they make their own. Their unique co-op style games are a massive hit. A Way Out sold 12 million copies, then It Takes Two blew up with 27 million copies sold, and Split Fiction has already hit 4 million copies in under 2 months after launch.
According to Fares, the Friend’s Pass that lets one buy-in cover two players online was just a creative instinct that turned into a huge sales boost for Hazelight. Yet the studio still thinks of itself as indie at core and has no plans to suddenly expand projects in terms of scope.
Fares agrees that every collaboration has its ups and downs, but the results scream success, at least for Hazelight. They have great sales numbers, major awards, and a genuine fanbase for their games.
EA has taken hate for microtransactions, layoffs, studio shutdowns, and the massive $55 billion Saudi buyout last year. Fares understands why fans get mad, but he’s quick to remind everyone that there are good people at EA who are passionate for their work and live for games.
