Hazelight Studios founder Josef Fares has spoken out in defense of Electronic Arts (EA), emphasizing that the publishing giant is often criticized more harshly than other industry leaders like Nintendo, Microsoft, or Sony.
In a recent interview with The Game Business at CES 2026, Fares shed light on his team's collaborative relationship with EA, particularly noting the successes of award-winning titles like It Takes Two and the studio's latest release, Split Fiction, on platforms such as the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox. Electronic Arts, one of the world's largest third-party video game publishers, has faced diverse public perceptions throughout its history.
Despite being the force behind key franchises, EA has often drawn criticism from players regarding microtransactions, digital rights management, and online service controversies.
Nevertheless, Fares points out that all major video game publishers, including Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony, have made their share of missteps.
As he told The Game Business, "Let’s be honest, every major publisher has had their share of mistakes.
Sometimes it seems EA gets more criticism than is warranted.
Look at Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony—each has had moments where they missed the mark.
Yet, for some reason, EA is often painted as the antagonist." Since partnering with EA, Hazelight Studios has flourished, producing critically acclaimed games that have garnered awards and commercial success.
It Takes Two, in particular, sold over three million units within its first year and won numerous Game of the Year awards, including at The Game Awards 2021.
The studio's latest project, Split Fiction, continues this momentum, reinforcing Hazelight's reputation for delivering innovative co-op experiences across major gaming platforms. Fares further clarified that his interactions with EA have been overwhelmingly positive, describing the relationship as a “super good collaboration.” In his own words, he feels supported by individuals at EA who “love games,” rather than merely corporate executives.
"The team at EA knows how we work and respects our creative process.
I'm surrounded by people at EA who genuinely care about video games, and if that ever changed, Hazelight would always put creativity first," Fares explained. As the video game industry continues to evolve, particularly on popular hardware like the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox Series X|S, the importance of productive publisher-developer partnerships remains clear.
Hazelight Studios’ continued success under EA’s umbrella highlights the collaborative potential between innovative developers and established publishers, even amidst intense public scrutiny.
For more insights from Josef Fares, including his outlook on the future of artificial intelligence in gaming, stay tuned to industry reports and coverage from events like CES.
In a recent interview with The Game Business at CES 2026, Fares shed light on his team's collaborative relationship with EA, particularly noting the successes of award-winning titles like It Takes Two and the studio's latest release, Split Fiction, on platforms such as the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox. Electronic Arts, one of the world's largest third-party video game publishers, has faced diverse public perceptions throughout its history.
Despite being the force behind key franchises, EA has often drawn criticism from players regarding microtransactions, digital rights management, and online service controversies.
Nevertheless, Fares points out that all major video game publishers, including Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony, have made their share of missteps.
As he told The Game Business, "Let’s be honest, every major publisher has had their share of mistakes.
Sometimes it seems EA gets more criticism than is warranted.
Look at Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony—each has had moments where they missed the mark.
Yet, for some reason, EA is often painted as the antagonist." Since partnering with EA, Hazelight Studios has flourished, producing critically acclaimed games that have garnered awards and commercial success.
It Takes Two, in particular, sold over three million units within its first year and won numerous Game of the Year awards, including at The Game Awards 2021.
The studio's latest project, Split Fiction, continues this momentum, reinforcing Hazelight's reputation for delivering innovative co-op experiences across major gaming platforms. Fares further clarified that his interactions with EA have been overwhelmingly positive, describing the relationship as a “super good collaboration.” In his own words, he feels supported by individuals at EA who “love games,” rather than merely corporate executives.
"The team at EA knows how we work and respects our creative process.
I'm surrounded by people at EA who genuinely care about video games, and if that ever changed, Hazelight would always put creativity first," Fares explained. As the video game industry continues to evolve, particularly on popular hardware like the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox Series X|S, the importance of productive publisher-developer partnerships remains clear.
Hazelight Studios’ continued success under EA’s umbrella highlights the collaborative potential between innovative developers and established publishers, even amidst intense public scrutiny.
For more insights from Josef Fares, including his outlook on the future of artificial intelligence in gaming, stay tuned to industry reports and coverage from events like CES.
