"EA is criticized more than it deserves" - Director of Split Fiction and It Takes Two
Josef Fares, the head of Hazelight and creator of It Takes Two and Split Fiction, defended the publisher Electronic Arts.
According to Fares, in the eyes of players, EA has become a typical villain of the industry, although such criticism is often unfounded. He noted that "every major publisher — Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony — makes mistakes. But for some reason, EA gets the most flak."
Fares emphasized that his personal experience working with EA is completely opposite to the stereotypes about a "soulless corporation." He stated that the studio is surrounded by people who love games, not corporate formalities, and that EA fully respects Hazelight's independence, not interfering in the creative process.
This freedom has yielded results: Split Fiction, released in March 2025, sold 4 million copies in two months, which confirmed the effectiveness of the collaboration model with EA Originals.
Fares' statement came against the backdrop of EA shareholders approving the sale of a controlling stake to the Saudi Public Investment Fund, which, after regulatory approval, will receive more than 93% of the company.
