Split Fiction Has A Chance To Fix It Takes Two’s Biggest Problem

Published Dec 29, 2024

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Custom Image by Katarina Cimbaljevic

The newest title by Hazelight Studios, the makers of It Takes Two and A Way Out, was revealed as Split Fiction at The Game Awards 2024. Like other Hazelight Studios games, Split Fiction will feature dual protagonists. This game won't just have two main characters that a single player switches between, but two characters that must be played cooperatively by two players.

Since this is the third time Hazelight Studios has made this type of co-op game, they should now be able to avoid the annoyances of past games. The major problem with these past games, especially in It Takes Two, is the constant bickering and fighting between the two main characters. While it does make sense for the plot of the game, two parents who need to repair their relationship after growing apart, the angry dialogue makes the gaming experience a taxing one after a while.

Split Fiction Contains Two Main Characters

Every Game Is A Unique Cooperative Experience

Like It Takes Two, Split Fiction will feature dual protagonists. This mechanic is fantastic for the gameplay in It Takes Two and A Way Out, as it introduces more unique puzzles for players to work through together. However, unlike It Takes Two, Split Fiction won’t be bogged down by the established relationship problems from the earlier game.

In both It Takes Two and A Way Out, the main characters have a long history which players learn about throughout the game. These parents with a fraught relationship are forced to resolve their issues and see each other's perspectives when they're magically transformed into dolls. This also means that the characters have a lot of baggage to work through, which was especially irritating in It Takes Two, where the two protagonists, Cody and May, bickered the entire game right up to the finale.

How Split Fiction Can Fix It Takes Two's Protagonist Issue

A Friendly Relationship Would Be Refreshing

Split Fiction will have a unique opportunity to give the two main characters, Zoe and Mio, a fresh start. From the trailer reveal at The Game Awards, it seems that Zoe and Mio will meet for the first time when they both become trapped in their stories. While there will likely be some animosity at the start, since it seems that it’s Mio’s fault that her science fiction story is colliding with Zoe’s fantasy tale, that in-fighting won’t be necessary to the plot for very long.

The dual protagonists from Split Fiction with baby dragons perched on their backs.

Split Fiction Is Already One Of The Most Exciting Games Of 2025

Hazelight Studios' new co-op game Split Fiction promises to be a wild ride, and its gameplay has proven that it will be one of the best games in 2025.

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The best thing Split Fiction can do to overcome It Takes Two’s protagonist problem is to make sure that the two leads become friends and resolve their differences much earlier in the game. They’ll likely both have wildly different perspectives, but being able to work together without the constant jabs and complaints like from Cody and May would make Split Fiction a much more enjoyable experience that doesn't simply rehash what Hazelight has done before.