This year, Hazelight Studios’ Split Fiction has emerged as a monumental success. This captivating two-player co-op sci-fi/fantasy adventure has already sold over 4 million copies since its March 2025 launch. Now, the studio is celebrating a truly unique honor in its home country: Split Fiction is the first video game in history to be presented with the prestigious Excellent Swedish Design award.
Hazelight Studios proudly announced this achievement on their social media, sharing a photo of studio founder and Split Fiction director Josef Fares standing alongside Sweden’s very own Prince Carl Philip, who personally bestowed the award. The accompanying tweet humorously noted, ‘Swedish royalty (left) and his buddy (right) 😏 But seriously – the prince of Sweden, his majesty Carl Philip, just awarded Split Fiction the prestigious Excellent Swedish Design award. We’re thankful to be the first videogame to ever receive it! 👑🇸🇪’
The game’s narrative revolves around two young writers, Mio Hudson (Kaja Chan) and Zoe Foster (Elsie Bennett), who find themselves bizarrely pulled into a simulated world born from their own stories. Trapped within this bleeding reality, Mio and Zoe must collaborate to navigate the merged fictional landscapes. Split Fiction continues the legacy of Hazelight Studios’ prior co-op hit, It Takes Two, which boasted an impressive 23 million copies sold.
The excitement doesn’t stop there; a Split Fiction movie adaptation is already in the works. John M. Chu, known for directing Wicked, is being considered to helm the film, with Sydney Sweeney attached to star. Deadpool writers Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese were brought on board in June to pen the script. While director Fares has voiced some uncertainty about whether the movie will ultimately reach the big screen, the project clearly has strong momentum.
Split Fiction is currently available across multiple platforms, including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. Fans can also explore an extensive image gallery showcasing various Easter eggs hidden throughout the game, referencing titles like Elden Ring and Halo.