The Dual Protagonists
Mio Hudson
Reserved. Decisive. Realist. Introvert. Raised in the city with her father, Mio has barely scraped by for the last couple of years. She isn't looking for fame or recognition as an author, she's just in it for the money. Her love for all things sci-fi is reflected in her literary works, taking place in neon-lit cyberpunk cities, harsh futuristic weapon plants, and even in the coldness of outer space.
Key Abilities
- Gravity-defying ninja abilities with a lethally sharp energy sword
- Advanced exosuit granting remote control of drones
- Dual-wielding laser blasters in futuristic combat armor
- Hacking skills to control and manipulate technology
Zoe Foster
Charismatic. Empathetic. Optimist. Extrovert. Growing up in the countryside with her mother, Zoe has always had a knack for storytelling. After moving to the big city, she's been having a hard time getting her fantasy novels published. Her determination, however, burns brighter than her setbacks. Zoe's writing opens up vibrant fantasy worlds filled with mischievous nymphs, ancient forests, sprawling castles, and all sorts of mythical beasts.
Key Abilities
- Channeling elemental magic through a powerful staff
- Commanding mythical beasts in battle
- Wielding an enchanted bow with magical arrow effects
- Invoking ancient spells for defensive shields and healing
The Split Fiction Story
Mio and Zoe are two unpublished authors lured to the headquarters of Rader Publishing with promises of book deals. Instead, they find themselves trapped in a strange simulation, where their own stories have come to life. To survive and escape, they must navigate through their interconnected fictional worlds while unraveling the mysteries behind their entrapment.
The game, releasing March 6, 2025, features unique co-op gameplay where players control both characters simultaneously across different realities. Director Josef Fares, known for co-op games like It Takes Two and A Way Out, named the characters after his daughters, adding a personal touch to this ambitious narrative adventure.
Split Fiction character abilities showcase - Official gameplay trailer
Friends Pass Feature
Play Together With One Copy
As officially announced by Hazelight Studios, Split Fiction continues the studio's tradition of offering the Friends Pass feature. This means only one player needs to purchase the game to enjoy the full co-op experience. The owner can invite a friend to download the free Friends Pass app and play the entire adventure together online.
Cross-Platform Co-op
Split Fiction supports cross-platform co-op gameplay, allowing friends to team up regardless of their preferred gaming platform. Whether on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, or PC, players can join forces to navigate through Mio and Zoe's interconnected stories.
Unique Co-op Experience
Following the acclaimed co-op design philosophy that made It Takes Two a Game of the Year winner, Split Fiction creates a deeply integrated two-player experience. Each player's actions in their character's world directly impacts the other's reality, requiring communication and coordination to progress.
Character Relationships
Interconnected Stories
The relationships between Split Fiction's characters evolve based on player choices and actions across both worlds. As Mio and Zoe begin to communicate across their realities, they discover connections between their stories that suggest their entrapment may not be coincidental.
| Relationship | Dynamic | Story Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Mio & Zoe | Initial strangers who develop a complex bond | Central to the narrative, their cooperation determines both worlds' fate |
| Mio & Echo | Mentor/student with underlying tension | Reveals key aspects of the simulation's true purpose |
| Zoe & Thorne | Adversarial that can evolve into alliance | Opens alternative paths and endings in the fantasy realm |
| Vex & All Characters | Manipulative omnipresence | Drives the overarching conflict and resolution |
Character Interactions
Split Fiction features a dynamic dialogue system where character relationships evolve based on player choices. Each major decision affects how characters perceive and interact with each other, opening different narrative branches and gameplay opportunities.
Cross-Reality Connections
As the story progresses, players discover that actions in one character's world directly impact the other's reality. This interconnected design creates complex cause-and-effect scenarios that encourage strategic thinking about how character decisions affect both narratives.
Character Design & Development
Artistic Vision
Split Fiction's character designs showcase a deliberate visual contrast between Mio's cyberpunk aesthetic and Zoe's fantasy-inspired appearance. This artistic choice reinforces the dual-world narrative and helps players immediately identify which reality they're navigating.
The character design team spent over two years perfecting the visual evolution of each character, ensuring that their appearances change subtly as they progress through their stories, reflecting their growing understanding of their virtual worlds.
Voice & Motion Capture
Split Fiction features renowned voice actors who brought the characters to life through extensive dialogue recording and motion capture sessions. Every character movement and facial expression was meticulously crafted to convey emotional depth during pivotal story moments.
The game employs advanced animation technology that allows characters to react dynamically to player choices, creating uniquely personalized narrative experiences with subtle differences in character performances based on relationship developments.
Discover More
Explore the intricate stories of Split Fiction's characters as they navigate their interconnected realities. From unlocking hidden character abilities to discovering secret backstory elements, the journey through Split Fiction's dual worlds offers endless possibilities for character development and storytelling.