Split Fiction streamers conquer the incredibly difficult secret stage, "Laser Hell," earning a trip to Hazelight Studios! Read on to learn more about their amazing feat and what Hazelight is cooking up next.
Split Fiction: More Surprises Unfold
Laser Hell Conquered: A Trip to Sweden Awaits
Split Fiction's successful launch last month continues to yield exciting surprises, particularly the discovery of the brutally challenging "Laser Hell" secret stage. Despite its punishing difficulty, Chinese streamers sharkOvO and E1uM4y recently triumphed, completing the challenge and earning a unique reward: a trip to Hazelight Studios in Sweden!
Their BiliBili video showcases their masterful navigation of Laser Hell. Accessing this hidden stage requires players to correctly input a specific switch sequence on the Isolation level's elevator. Success unlocks a platform stage filled with deadly lasers.
Their accomplishment unlocked a congratulatory video message from Hazelight Founder Josef Fares himself. Fares revealed that even many Hazelight developers struggled to complete Laser Hell, highlighting the duo's impressive skill. He then extended his invitation to visit the studio. Fares later confirmed this on Twitter (X) on March 19th: "Congrats to "sharkOvO" and "E1uM4y" for finishing the secret challenge "Laser Hell" in #splitficton. VERY impressive! I will keep my promise and invite you both to Sweden for an early look of our next game. We´ll be in touch!"
Hazelight Studios: The Next Chapter Begins
In a March 17th interview on The Friends Per Second podcast, Fares discussed Hazelight's strong relationship with EA and confirmed the studio has already begun work on its next game. He described Split Fiction's reception as "extra special," exceeding even his expectations. While thrilled with the game's success, he expressed his intense focus on the next project, which is already underway.
While he remained tight-lipped about specifics, citing the early stage of development, Fares did confirm that Hazelight's development cycle typically spans three to four years. He emphasized the team's excitement, noting that work commenced approximately a month prior to the interview.
Regarding EA's role, Fares clarified that EA acts as a supportive partner, not an interfering publisher. Hazelight maintains complete creative control, showcasing a respectful and successful collaborative relationship that stands in contrast to some other developer-publisher dynamics. He highlighted EA's respect for Hazelight's creative autonomy, emphasizing their status as one of EA's most successful studios.
Split Fiction Update and Milestone Sales
On March 17th, Split Fiction received its first update, addressing community-reported issues. These fixes included resolving various in-game mechanics, addressing minor online glitches, and improving localization and subtitles across all languages.
Furthermore, Split Fiction achieved a remarkable milestone, surpassing 2 million copies sold within its first week of release. This impressive figure significantly outpaces the initial sales of Hazelight's previous hit, It Takes Two, which reached 1 million sales a few weeks after launch.
Split Fiction is currently available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay tuned for further updates!
