When two writers enter a virtual reality machine at Rader Publishing, they don’t expect to get trapped inside their own stories. But that’s exactly what happens in Split Fiction, releasing March 6, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
“They have to come to terms with their differences, uncover hidden secrets about themselves, and realize that to escape the simulations they find themselves trapped in, they must work together,” explains the PlayStation blog about main characters Mio and Zoe.
During the preview session, Eurogamer found the game more demanding than Hazelight’s previous title, It Takes Two. “I died a fair amount, I won’t lie,” their reviewer notes, but adds that frequent checkpoints keep the experience from becoming frustrating.
The game switches between Mio’s sci-fi worlds and Zoe’s fantasy realms. In one moment, players might be using gravity whips to pull enemies off ledges; in the next, they’re riding dragons that can roll up like balls to solve puzzles. A standout sequence has players snowboarding through a war zone while competing for trick points, mixing SSX-style moves with battlefield dodging.
Some sections require specific teamwork. In the “Final Level” preview area, each player gets color-coded weapons. The Eurogamer preview describes: “Zoe was on blue duty, while Mio was all about the red, though there were also other enemies in the mix who could be shot by both,” showing how players must coordinate to defeat different enemy types.
The game includes optional side stories that put a twist on the main gameplay. One transforms both characters into super-powered pigs who must solve farm puzzles. Another has players competing for high scores while snowboarding down a mountain during an active battle.
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For friends wanting to play together, Split Fiction uses Hazelight’s Friend’s Pass system. This lets two people play online when one owns the full game, but requires installation of the Friend’s Pass, a persistent internet connection, and an applicable platform account. The game will support cross-platform play, making it easier to play with friends across any platform.
Players control distinct characters with very different backgrounds. Mio is a city-raised sci-fi writer just trying to make money from her work. Zoe comes from the countryside, writing fantasy stories while trying to prove herself to her family. These differences show up in their abilities – Mio might use an exosuit with drone controls, while Zoe could transform into a fairy or ride dragons.
Early preview sessions highlight how the game keeps changing up its activities. Metro’s reviewer notes that in just the first 15 minutes, players go from basic platform jumping to ship piloting to combat, all while working together to progress.
The game won’t be available on Xbox Game Pass or EA Play at launch, but will release simultaneously on all platforms. Director Josef Fares, who named the main characters after his daughters, emphasizes how each section of the game tries to offer something new rather than repeat previous challenges.