Leap Between Sci-Fi and Fantasy Worlds in Split Fiction, an All-New Co-op Adventure From Hazelight and EA Originals

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 6, 2025--

The co-op masterminds are back! Today, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) and Hazelight Studios invite players to embark on an action-packed buddy adventure in Split Fiction, available now on PlayStation ® 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store and EA app for $49.99. The title has achieved universal acclaim on Metacritic and earned perfect scores from more than 26 media, including Variety, TechRadar Gaming and GameSpot, who called it “a hilarious, compassionate, and delightful new benchmark for multiplayer experiences.” Split Fiction is the #1 Best-Reviewed Game of 2025 so far.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250306895584/en/

In Split Fiction, players take on the roles of Mio and Zoe as they traverse through vibrant sci-fi and fantasy worlds, working together and uncovering the power of unexpected friendship. Hazelight Studios, the creative minds behind the 2021 Game of the Year winner It Takes Two (23 million units sold worldwide), takes its proven co-op formula to the next level in Split Fiction with more gameplay variety than ever before.

“ Split Fiction is filled with the wildest stuff you’ll ever see in a co-op game. The gameplay variety is insane and I’m incredibly proud of the level of polish that we managed to do,” said Josef Fares. “You’re going to visit some really incredible sci-fi and fantasy worlds, collaborate, and have a lot of fun - you guys are gonna love it.”

Mio and Zoe are aspiring writers who are trapped in a machine designed to steal their creative ideas. The two must set aside their differences to break out of the simulation of their own stories. Along the way, they will discover new mechanics and abilities in every level of their adventure. Escape a sun that’s going supernova, challenge a monkey to a dance battle, try out some cool hoverboard tricks, fight an evil kitty, and ride everything from gravity bikes to a sandshark. Experience worlds that are entirely different from each other, unexpected new abilities, and a range of gameplay that includes platforming, puzzles, and more.

As players journey through different landscapes, they will encounter mysterious portals that lead to Side Stories: brief, optional twists on gameplay that launch Mio and Zoe into unfinished drafts and creative story concepts from their writing, varying up the gameplay even further. Players won’t want to miss climbing a giant-infested mountain, surfing across the desert on the backs of sand sharks, or waterskiing behind a flying train.

“ Split Fiction is a bombastic, no-holds-barred celebration of what video games do best – entertain!” said Jeff Gamon, General Manager of EA Partners. “Once again, Josef and the fantastic team at Hazelight have proven themselves champions of cooperative adventure gaming. I’m as confident as anyone could be that gamers, their friends, families and loved ones will lose themselves completely in this extraordinary co-op journey.”

Split Fiction can be played cooperatively with local multiplayer or online using Friend’s Pass, a staple feature from Hazelight Studios that allows players who own a copy of the game to invite a friend to play the full game with them for free. As with the base game, cross-play options are enabled for Friend’s Pass on PlayStation, Xbox and PC.

Split Fiction is available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store and EA app for $49.99. The game is rated ESRB TEEN and PEGI 16.

For more information on Split Fiction, visit: https://www.ea.com/games/split-fiction/split-fiction.

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About Hazelight Studios

Creators of the Game of the Year 2021, It Takes Two, Hazelight is a multiple award-winning independent game development studio based in Stockholm, Sweden. Founded in 2014 by Josef Fares, film director and creator of the critically acclaimed game Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons. Hazelight is committed to pushing the creative boundaries of what is possible in games. In 2018, Hazelight released A Way Out, the first-ever co-op-only third-person action-adventure, as part of the EA Originals program.

About EA Originals

EA Originals celebrates those who dare to explore.

These studios forge new ways to play by bringing together developers with bold visions. Here, these developers use their artistic freedom to reach players who will treasure the new experiences they’ve created.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company develops and delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, mobile devices and personal computers.

In fiscal year 2024, EA posted GAAP net revenue of approximately $7.6 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality brands such as EA SPORTS FC™, Battlefield™, Apex Legends™, The Sims™, EA SPORTS™ Madden NFL, EA SPORTS™ College Football, Need for Speed™, Dragon Age™, Titanfall™, Plants vs. Zombies™ and EA SPORTS F1®. More information about EA is available at www.ea.com/news.

EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS FC, Battlefield, Need for Speed, Apex Legends, The Sims, Dragon Age, Titanfall, and Plants vs. Zombies are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. John Madden, NFL, FIFA and F1 are the property of their respective owners and used with permission.

Split Fiction (Photo: Business Wire)

The Milan Cortina Winter Olympics will debut a new sport next month: Ski mountaineering, which combines uphill sprinting (on boots and on skis) and downhill skiing. Although the sport on the global stage is relatively new, it does have roots dating to the late 19th century. Backcountry winter sports have grown in popularity and there is anecdotal evidence that they saw a surge in participation during the pandemic.

Something to know about skimo: It's fast, with sprint races lasting about 3 minutes.

Ski mountaineering will have men's and women's sprint events along with a mixed relay.

The race works like this: The racers sprint uphill with skins on the bottom of their skis. A skin is a strip of material that allows for traction going uphill. They then run a section in boots before putting their skis back on to traverse another uphill section. Once at the top, they take the skins off and race downhill. In the men's and women's sprint-event format, there will be a qualifying round where 18 racers qualify over three heats. The top three athletes in each heat advance to the semifinals along with three others based on time. In the semifinal rounds, two advance along with two more “lucky losers," which sets up the race for medals. The mixed relay consists of one female and one male racer from each country. Each will complete two ascents and descents. The female athlete begins, then tags her male teammate for the switch. The team that completes all four laps first wins gold.

The current ski mountaineering sprint champions are Swiss racer Marianne Fatton and Spain's Oriol Cardona Coll. Another favorite is France's Emily Harrop, who won the test event at the venue last winter ahead of Fatton. Coll won the men's event ahead of Swiss racers Jon Kistler and Arno Lietha. In the mixed relay event, Coll partnered with Ana Alonso Rodriguez for the win. Harrop and Thibault Anselmet were second. Rodriguez said in October she was hit by a car while cycling, tearing knee ligaments, hoping to heal in time. The U.S. earned an Olympic spot in the mixed relay thanks to a World Cup victory from Anna Gibson and Cam Smith.

The races will be staged in Bormio at the Stelvio Ski Center, with the men's and women's sprint events taking place on Feb. 19. The mixed relay competition takes place two days later.

The medal winners will be the first in their sport at the Olympics.

There are penalties in the race for things such as disrespectful behavior, unsportsmanlike conduct, technical errors and equipment that’s missing. The penalties range from a disqualification to adding time. The first ski mountaineering world championships were held in France in 2002. The sport is presided over by the International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF), representing roughly 55 national federations across five continents. Ski mountaineering was part of the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics in Lausanne. The sport is proposed for the 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps.

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

FILE - An athlete competes during the women's sprint race at the Ski Mountaineering World Cup event in Bormio, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File)