If you’ve ever dived into a Hazelight Studios game, you know what to expect: characters brimming with unique quirks, intriguing backgrounds, and compelling motivations. These elements come together to create a memorable story that you and your co-op partner won’t soon forget.
Now, Hazelight continues this tradition with the introduction of two new characters in their upcoming game, Split Fiction, set to release on March 6 for the PlayStation 5. You’ll be stepping into the shoes of Mio and Zoe, two unpublished authors with personalities that couldn’t be more different. Their adventure begins when they’re drawn into the Rader Publishing Headquarters by the tantalizing prospect of a publishing deal. Things go awry quickly, and the pair find themselves ensnared in a simulation of their own stories. Your task? Help them break free. Let’s unpack these characters a bit, so you can choose your favorite when you get the game in your hands!
Mio Hudson: The Science Fiction Scribe
Reserved and decisive, Mio is a realist and an introvert, raised in the bustling city by her father. Her writing isn’t about chasing after fame; for Mio, it’s all about financial survival. Her passion for sci-fi is vividly captured in her stories, set in neon-drenched cyberpunk metropolises, ominous futuristic weapon plants, and the vast, unfeeling void of space.
Inside the simulations, her sci-fi passion dictates her powers, allowing her to become a gravity-defying ninja with an energy sword, don a high-tech exosuit for drone control, or equip herself with laser blasters as she fights in sleek combat armor.
Zoe Foster: The Fantasy Storyteller
Zoe’s the exact opposite. Charismatic, empathetic, and an eternal optimist, she’s a chirpy girl from the countryside with a burning desire to prove herself to her family. She sees a publishing deal as a ticket to solving her troubles. Fantasy is Zoe’s realm, with her stories weaving tales of towns overtaken by trolls, daring escapes through forested lands facing ice ages, and the noble quest to save the last dragons from vanishing forever.
In her simulations, her love for fantasy takes flight as she transforms into a shapeshifting fairy, rides dragons armed with mythical swords, or glides between sky islands using a magical kite.
Mio and Zoe, as opposite as can be, must navigate through their differences, discover their hidden strengths, and ultimately learn that cooperation and friendship are key to escaping the confines of their simulated worlds.
Interestingly, during The Game Awards in December, Josef Fares shared a heartfelt tidbit: the names Mio and Zoe are dear to him, as they’re inspired by his daughters.
So, here’s the burning question for you and your co-op partner: who’s going to play as the pragmatic Mio, and who’ll take on the vivacious Zoe?
As with Hazelight’s previous hits like A Way Out and It Takes Two, Split Fiction brings back the beloved Friend’s Pass feature.* This allows one friend who owns the game to invite another to join the adventure at no extra cost. Hazelight even plans to introduce cross-platform play, ensuring you can team up with friends regardless of the platform they’re on.
Mark your calendar for March 6, 2025, when Split Fiction lands on PlayStation 5.
*The Friend’s Pass requires installation, a steady internet connection, and a relevant platform account. Only one player needs to have the full game for both to play together.
