The cooperative gaming landscape is poised for a significant evolution in 2025, heralded by the recent unveilings of two highly anticipated titles. Hazelight Studios, the acclaimed developer behind the 2021 Game of the Year winner It Takes Two, has announced Split Fiction, a new sci-fi/fantasy adventure set for release on May 6, 2025. In a parallel development, Ghost Town Games and Hello Games are preparing Stage Fright, a fresh entry that builds upon the beloved Overcooked formula with a spooky twist. These announcements, made during The Game Awards 2024, signal a promising new chapter for creative, narrative-driven local and online multiplayer experiences, born from years of dedicated experimentation in the genre.
Split Fiction: Hazelight's Ambitious Genre-Blending Follow-Up
Split Fiction represents Hazelight Studios' bold next step. Slated for release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X with full cross-platform support, the game aims to recapture the magic of It Takes Two while venturing into uncharted thematic territory. Director Josef Fares revealed that the story centers on an unlikely duo of aspiring writers, Mio and Zoe—characters named after his own daughters—who find themselves trapped inside a sinister simulation created by the malevolent tech conglomerate, Rader Publishing. To escape and return to reality, they must overcome their differences and collaborate.
The game's core premise involves seamlessly shifting between the real world and the wildly imaginative fictional universes the protagonists have written. This "split" concept is reflected directly in the gameplay and the title itself. Each new story world grants the pair a completely unique set of mechanics and abilities, ensuring the experience evolves constantly. Previews hint at moments where players might be:
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Riding dragons across fantasy skies
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Navigating futuristic cities on hoverboards
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Snowboarding down perilous slopes
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Even transforming into flying pigs
This moment-to-moment variety promises to deliver the same mechanical ingenuity and challenge that defined It Takes Two, if not more. Furthermore, Hazelight has confirmed that the beloved "Friend's Pass" system will return, allowing two players to enjoy the full game with only one purchase.
Stage Fright: Overcooked Meets Spooky Puzzle-Solving
From the kitchens of chaos to haunted halls, Ghost Town Games and Hello Games are serving up a different kind of cooperative challenge with Stage Fright. Described by developers as "Overcooked meets Luigi's Mansion," this title represents the first major new entry in the franchise since Overcooked 2 in 2018. The game features a revitalized art style that pays homage to the studio's past work while introducing a eerily charming aesthetic.
Moving beyond culinary calamity, Stage Fright tasks players with solving intricate escape room-style puzzles, overcoming environmental obstacles, and unraveling a deep, ancient mystery. While retaining the split-screen local co-op foundation that made Overcooked a party staple, the new game incorporates a surprisingly profound narrative—a notable departure from the series' traditionally lighthearted, tongue-in-cheek tone. Tim Woodley, Head of Publishing at Hello Games, has emphasized that Stage Fright will be "more touching, with a real heart," suggesting emotional depth akin to Hazelight's work. The dynamic between its two cartoony protagonists is also expected to evoke the memorable partnership of Cody and May from It Takes Two.
The Convergence of a New Co-op Era
The simultaneous emergence of Split Fiction and Stage Fright in 2025 is not coincidental. It marks a maturation of the cooperative genre, where developers are pushing beyond established formulas to create richer, more varied shared experiences. The table below highlights the converging and diverging paths of these two flagship titles:
| Feature | Split Fiction (Hazelight Studios) | Stage Fright (Ghost Town/Hello Games) |
|---|---|---|
| Core Inspiration | Direct sequel in spirit to It Takes Two | Evolution of the Overcooked framework |
| Primary Themes | Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Meta-Narrative | Horror-Lite, Mystery, Puzzle-Solving |
| Gameplay Focus | Evolving mechanics, platforming, story-driven challenges | Escape room puzzles, obstacle navigation, chaotic coordination |
| Narrative Depth | Central, emotional character-driven story (confirmed) | Surprisingly profound story with "heart" (promised) |
| Visual Style | Cinematic, detailed 3D worlds | Revitalized, charming cartoon style with spooky elements |
| Release | May 6, 2025 | 2025 (Specific date TBA) |
Both studios are leveraging their hard-earned reputations to explore new ground. Hazelight is doubling down on narrative innovation and genre fusion, while the Overcooked team is expanding its definition of cooperative chaos into narrative and atmospheric depth. This signals a broader industry trend where the value of a shared screen—whether local or online—is being redefined not just by mechanics, but by memorable stories and evolving worlds.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Shared Gaming
As we move further into the decade, the announcements of Split Fiction and Stage Fright set a high bar for cooperative play in 2025 and beyond. They demonstrate a commitment to the idea that playing together can be as emotionally engaging and creatively stimulating as any single-player epic. The continued support for features like Friend's Pass and cross-play ensures these experiences remain accessible.
The success of It Takes Two proved there was a massive audience for high-quality, mandatory co-op adventures. Now, its spiritual successor and inspired peers are poised to build that audience further. For players, 2025 shapes up to be a year where couch co-op and online partnership are not just about shared fun, but about shared journeys—whether writing your way out of a digital prison or escaping a haunted mystery together. The new era of cooperative gaming, forged from years of experimentation, is finally here. 🎮✨