Split Fiction has made history, and EA has every reason to celebrate. The co-op game has nearly tripled the peak player count of It Takes Two on Steam, making it the second most-played EA title ever on the platform.

Josef Fares has once again proven why he’s one of the most innovative minds in the gaming industry. His ability to craft cooperative experiences that blend compelling narratives with fresh mechanics has made him a powerhouse developer, as seen with past hits like Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons and A Way Out. After It Takes Two won Game of the Year in 2021, his latest project, Split Fiction, is already earning widespread acclaim.

It’s only been two days since Split Fiction launched, but it has already taken the gaming world by storm across all platforms. The most impressive numbers, however, come from Steam, where the game has shattered expectations by reaching 254,000 concurrent players—more than tripling the peak of It Takes Two, which topped out at 71,000 players at its height, according to SteamDB.

If that record wasn’t enough, here’s another stat EA can be proud of: Split Fiction is now the second biggest EA game launch on Steam in terms of concurrent players. The only title ahead of it is Apex Legends, which peaked at over 620,000 users in February 2023. Split Fiction’s success is no fluke—Josef Fares has taken the formula that made It Takes Two a hit and pushed it to even greater heights.

Josef Fares Is No Fan of Microtransactions

Part of Fares’ appeal is his straightforward, no-nonsense attitude. He’s not one to compromise his vision, and his games are designed to be purely about fun—no gimmicks, no unnecessary monetization. One of the most divisive aspects of modern gaming is microtransactions, and Fares has made his stance clear: “Microtransactions are game-ruining shit,” he once said, firmly stating that they will never appear in any of his games.

Source: 3djuegos