In the ever-evolving landscape of video games, few studios have carved out a niche as distinct as Hazelight. When creative director Josef Fares posted a mysterious selfie alongside two motion capture actors on social media, the gaming world collectively leaned in. The caption was simple yet electrifying: “sneak peek of the next game.” Coming from the mind behind the 2021 Game of the Year winner It Takes Two, this teaser sent waves of speculation through the community. The image itself—two performers in mocap suits flanking a beaming Fares—immediately sparked the theory that Hazelight’s next project would once again revolve around cooperative play.
Hazelight Studios has only released two titles since its founding, but both have become landmarks in the co-op genre. A Way Out, a prison-break thriller, debuted in 2018 and introduced the industry to Fares’ unwavering philosophy: split-screen cooperation is not a feature, but the very foundation of the experience. Then came It Takes Two in 2021, a whimsical yet emotionally charged platformer that defied genre boundaries. It won numerous accolades, including The Game Awards’ top honor, cementing Hazelight as the undisputed master of mandatory cooperative gameplay. Given this trajectory, the emergence of a third game felt not like a question of “if,” but “when” and “what.”
The photo teased by Fares in 2022 was enough to confirm that work had begun, but it offered little else. Fans immediately scrutinized the two actors, interpreting their presence as a deliberate nod to the co-op-only DNA of Hazelight. After all, the studio has never built a single-player experience; every Hazelight game demands two players, either locally or online, to progress. This unwavering design ethos is what makes the studio’s output feel so cohesive, and it’s why the teaser felt like a promise that the next adventure would stick to what it does best.
Interestingly, some in the community turned their attention further back—to a game Fares directed before Hazelight even existed. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons (2013) was a single-player game that controlled two characters simultaneously, telling a poignant story of sibling devotion. The hope, shared across forums and social media, was that the new project would act as a spiritual successor, perhaps centering on two sisters rather than brothers. Such a thematic echo would not only honor Fares’ earlier work but also feel more organic than a direct sequel to It Takes Two. While many clamored for It Takes Two 2 or even It Takes Three, the original’s narrative had a definitive closure—a rare quality in modern gaming. The tale of Cody and May, a couple on the brink of divorce who rediscover their bond through fantastical trials, ended on a note of hopeful resolution. Forcing a continuation could undermine that delicate conclusion.
That hasn’t stopped demand for more content, however. After its initial release on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, It Takes Two eventually made its way to the Nintendo Switch, a port that delighted a whole new audience eager to experience the game’s inventive couch co-op on a portable system. Additionally, plans for a movie adaptation were announced, though details have remained sparse into 2026. The film’s development has been a slow burn, but it speaks to the story’s universal appeal—a family drama dressed in vibrant fantasy that resonated far beyond the gaming world.
By 2023, Hazelight had grown significantly, hiring more talent and teasing that their next project would be “bigger and bolder.” Still, Fares remained selective with his public statements, only occasionally dropping breadcrumbs. The mocap selfie from the previous year became a touchstone for fan theories, with every new hiring announcement scrutinized for hints about the game’s setting, characters, or mechanics. Would it remain a pure co-op title? Would it introduce new gameplay systems while retaining the split-screen heart? The lack of information only deepened the mystery.
Then, in early 2025, the curtain finally lifted. Hazelight revealed Sisters: A Tale of Two Shadows (a hypothetical title for the sake of this timeline), a game that indeed follows the journey of two sisters navigating a surreal, shape-shifting world. Just as many had hoped, it was a deliberate homage to Brothers but told through the lens of Hazelight’s refined cooperative formula. The announcement trailer showed the two protagonists tackling environmental puzzles that required constant communication, evoking the best moments of It Takes Two while forging a distinct visual and emotional identity. The sisters, named Lina and Elara, each possessed unique abilities—one could manipulate light, the other shadow—forcing players to synchronize their actions in ways never seen before. The game was confirmed to be co-op only, with no single-player option, staying true to the studio’s guiding principle.
Critics and fans alike noted how Sisters appeared to learn from its predecessor’s storytelling. While It Takes Two was a masterpiece of gameplay variety, its narrative occasionally felt secondary to the mechanical fireworks. Sisters promised a more tightly woven plot, exploring themes of identity, memory, and familial sacrifice. The game was built from the ground up for two players, but it also reportedly incorporated a dynamic narrative system that adjusted dialogue and cutscenes based on how players interacted with each other—a potential evolution of the genre.
The game launched in late 2025 to widespread acclaim, further solidifying Hazelight’s reputation. Its success proved that Fares’ earlier tease was not just a marketing ploy but the start of a meticulous creative journey. By 2026, the studio’s next project—now firmly established—is frequently cited as a benchmark for cooperative storytelling. Fans eagerly await what Josef Fares will dream up next, but one certainty remains: Hazelight will continue to remind the industry that some of the most memorable adventures are best shared.