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Split Fiction Is a Smash Hit, and EA Didn’t Even Have to Ruin It
March 8, 2025Something incredible just happened. EA released a game, and nobody is mad at them. Seriously, let that sink in for a second. Split Fiction has barely been out for 48 hours, and it’s already making headlines as one of EA’s best-reviewed and most-played games in over a decade.
A game that wasn’t milked for microtransactions? Check.
A game that wasn’t stuck behind a pointless launcher? Double-check.
A game that focuses on pure, co-op fun instead of live-service nonsense? Jackpot.
It turns out that if you give players what they actually want, they’ll show up. And that’s exactly what’s happening. So, let’s break down just how Split Fiction’s success is rewriting the rules and why EA (and every publisher with a soul) should take notes.
Table of Contents
The Best Co-Op Game of 2025? The Numbers Speak for Themselves
If you measure success by Metacritic scores, player numbers, and internet hype, Split Fiction is the biggest co-op hit of the year. And EA’s first game to hit a 90+ rating on Metacritic in 13 years. That’s right—since Mass Effect 3 in 2012.
Here’s the breakdown:
- Metacritic Rating: 91 on PS5, 92 on Xbox and PC. That’s not just good; that’s “frame it on the wall” good.
- Steam Player Count: Over 197,000 concurrent players, making it EA’s second-highest peak ever (only Apex Legends has done better).
- Steam Reviews: 94% positive, making it one of EA’s top-rated Steam games ever (right behind It Takes Two).
And it did all of this without:
❌ A $500M marketing campaign
❌ Releasing in a broken, unfinished state
❌ Forcing players through a painful EA Launcher experience
It’s almost like good games sell themselves… Who would’ve thought?
Hazelight Keeps Winning, and EA Just Cashed In
If you’ve played It Takes Two or A Way Out, you already know Hazelight Studios doesn’t miss. This is a dev team that understands co-op gaming better than anyone, and with Split Fiction, they’ve absolutely hit their peak.
The game is filled with brilliant level design, cinematic storytelling, and wild moments that only co-op play can deliver. It’s the kind of experience that reminds you why couch co-op isn’t dead and why more studios should stop chasing battle royale trends and start making actual fun games again.
It’s also proof that smaller, focused games can win big. You don’t need a 10-year development cycle and a budget that could fund a small country. You just need a great idea, solid execution, and—most importantly—a game that respects the player’s time.
EA Did Something Shocking… They Didn’t Get in the Way
Let’s be real—EA doesn’t exactly have the best track record when it comes to not messing up good things. But somehow, they let Hazelight cook.
No live-service nonsense.
No season passes forced down your throat.
No “surprise mechanics” (a.k.a. loot boxes).
Just a fantastic game that you can play without jumping through hoops. Even more shocking? EA skipped the dreaded third-party launcher requirement. Instead of forcing PC players to navigate the nightmare that is EA’s app, they just let people play it through Steam. It’s almost like removing unnecessary barriers makes people more likely to buy a game. Who knew?
With Split Fiction’s sales and success, EA now has proof that gamers actually want quality co-op experiences.
- Developers don’t need to chase “live-service” trends to make a hit.
- You don’t need to drip-feed content for years to keep players engaged.
- Sometimes, a game is just a game. And that’s enough.
Now the question is: Will EA actually learn from this? Or will they take this W, immediately announce “Split Fiction Ultimate Deluxe Live Edition,” and ruin everything? We’re all watching, EA. Don’t mess this up.
What’s Next for Split Fiction?
Right now, it’s the biggest co-op success of the year, and there’s no doubt EA is celebrating this massive win. But the real test? Will other publishers take notes and start greenlighting more co-op games? Will we see more Hazelight-style hits in the future? Will other companies stop shoving battle passes into everything? Or will we be back to generic shooter #4823 by next year? Only time will tell. But for now? Let’s just enjoy this rare EA dub while it lasts.
While games are fun, it’s highly important to note that there’s more to life than sitting countless hours playing video games – there’s a purpose and more to life; seek out that purpose more often!
