Hazelight founder Josef Fares explains how even Electronic Arts wasn’t sure the now multi-million seller A Way Out would succeed.
The name Hazelight may still not be immediately familiar to many in the video game industry. More familiar might be Hazelight’s founder Josef Fares, who has made several appearances during The Game Awards going back to when he shouted “F*** the Oscars!” in 2017. Yet despite the studio’s small stature, its first game A Way Out has proven to be a stunning success, which even surprised its publisher Electronic Arts.
In an interview with IGN, Fares spoke candidly about A Way Out‘s development. He explained how no one believed in the potential of A Way Out, and that even Electronic Arts didn’t think it would sell. He does note that “they still believed in me,” however. Fares goes on to say that it didn’t matter who believed in him, because he believed in himself. He’d say to himself, “This is going to happen,” and ultimately that reality became the truth.
Fares reveals that Hazelight’s A Way Out has sold nearly 3.5 million copies now, which is a striking success for a young, small studio. Though most young or small studios don’t get the kind of backing that Electronic Arts can offer. According to Fares, A Way Out was developed by a team of around 30-35 different developers. He believes that passion and belief in the project are what helped them create a game that audiences really wanted.
On the back of A Way Out‘s success, Hazelight is working on another project designed around two players working together. It Takes Two is a more magical, fairy tale experience, especially compared to the grounded, mature storytelling of A Way Out. Expect to hear more about It Takes Two in 2021.
A Way Out is available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Source: IGN
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