Split Fiction preview — Jumping into the story in order to save it

Zoe and Mio couldn’t be more different. Zoe likes fantasy and cozy stories while Mio likes science fiction and heart-pumping action. At Rader Publishing, Zoe, Mio, and a handful of other writers are introduced to The Machine, a new and innovative storytelling technology that lets the storyteller become a part of the worlds they create. Unfortunately for our duo, the demonstration doesn’t go as planned and they get sucked into a battle for survival that bounces them between each other's creations in order to break out of the simulation.

This is the basis for the events of Hazelight’s upcoming co-op adventure, Split Fiction. I was recently invited out by EA and Hazelight to go hands-on, where I was able to spend a few hours with the game. I was paired up with a random duo and hopped right into the game couch co-op style. Let me tell you, Split Fiction takes buddy co-op storytelling to the next level.

In true Hazelight fashion, Split Fiction is an adventure tailored for two players. You and your duo will play as Zoe and Mio as they navigate each other’s creations, working together to solve puzzles, fight off enemies, and find the glitch that holds them captive. Like with previous works It Takes Two and A Way Out, the game features split-screen co-op gameplay. In our preview, we jumped between different parts of Zoe’s medieval fantasy adventure and Mio’s sci-fi revolution, running from trolls, avoiding space police, and so much more. Every level we were given a peek into kept us on our toes; no two levels were ever the same.

Between the main storylines, we were able to take a step back in different side stories: we became pigs running straight into fate’s mouth in one and a couple of hotshot hoverboarders landing sick tricks going down a mountainside in another. These moments gave us a brief glimpse into the backstories of Zoe and Mio themselves, along with how they eventually got to Rader.

This game is full of chaos, laughs, and banter. Even in these short bursts, the storytelling shines through. We see Zoe and Mio not only navigating through the simulation but also their relationship with each other. I’m very excited to see how it all comes together in the end. Will Zoe and Mio escape and finally be able to publish their stories? Or will they be forever lost in a neverending simulation?

Every level also sees unique gameplay dependent on the setting. Sci-fi and medieval adventures can take on many forms, as do the game mechanics that go along with them. Each level we played through felt like we were hopping into completely different games.

Gameplay consists of a lot of puzzle solving, platforming, and cooperation. Zoe and Mio each have their own parts to play every step of the way. Each character has different abilities and specialties that are also reflections of their personalities and their past. Mio is more rugged, ready for a good fight as a cyber ninja, while Zoe uses her wit to outsmart every opponent and obstacle.

With this constant shifting of new controls to learn with each new area and level, it’s surprisingly easy to pivot. It may feel like we’re jumping between different games, but the tutorial for each level is brief and the controls aren’t overly complicated. Split Fiction isn’t meant to be hard, especially for those who have played It Takes Two. Most levels give you the opportunity to play around with the controls a little bit before throwing you in. For the levels that don’t, if you’ve played any other video games at all, it should be fairly easy to figure out what to do. Do you know how to play pinball? Do you know what a twin-stick shooter is? You do? Good. You’re all set then.

I was able to speak briefly with Director and Hazelight founder Josef Fares, who is easily one of the coolest and chillest guys to talk to. Many may not remember, but he was also the brains behind Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons. While that game wasn’t co-op, all three of Hazelight’s productions have been. I was curious, so I asked about the choice of focusing on co-op for all these games? His answer? “I’m surprised not more people are doing it.” He went on to say that designing games for co-op like this is great from a creative aspect because of how unique each experience is with the different mechanics and the characters, and more. Will Hazelight always do just co-op games? “You never know what happens in the future,” he says.

The buddy co-op formula is certainly working for Hazelight, with It Takes Two having sold over 20 million copies and winning Game of the Year in 2021, and A Way Out selling over 9 million copies. From what I’ve seen even from my brief time with Split Fiction, it’s likely to be just as successful, if not even more because of how unique, creative, and addicting the storytelling and gameplay are.

This was a very well-polished preview. Split Fiction looks absolutely stunning in each of its different settings, as we zipped along a high-speed flying highway, rode on the backs of dragons, and so much more. We played the game on PCs using Xbox controllers, which featured control configurations that adapted well to any situation we found ourselves in. The creative prowess of the Hazelight team was on full display with nothing held back. The game’s performance was seamless, especially during busy sequences and transitions, keeping us immersed until it was time to jump to the next piece of the story.

To say I’m excited for more Split Fiction is an understatement. It won’t be hard at all for this game to shine bright like its predecessors. Split Fiction will release on March 6th, 2025 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series consoles, and PC. We’ll have more Split Fiction news and a final review coming soon, so stay tuned to GamingTrend.com and our YouTube channel.