Split Fiction

Split Fiction PC is a third-person co-op action-adventure built exclusively around two-player teamwork. The current PC storefront name remains Split Fiction, with no verified rebrand or replacement edition. Developed by Hazelight Studios and published by Electronic Arts under EA Originals, it follows writers Mio and Zoe through a shared simulation that constantly shifts between science-fiction and fantasy worlds.

This is not a solo campaign with an optional partner. The complete experience is designed for two human players, either locally through shared or split-screen play or online through cross-platform multiplayer.

A Co-Op Campaign That Keeps Changing Shape

The central loop combines platforming, environmental puzzles, stealth sequences, combat encounters, vehicle sections, and scripted set pieces. Each level introduces new abilities or interaction rules, so Split Fiction rarely settles into one repeated pattern for long.

Mio and Zoe are not simply two interchangeable characters. Their journey is structured around cooperation, timing, positioning, and communication. One player may need to activate a mechanism while the other crosses a hazard, or both players may need to coordinate movement during a fast action sequence.

The camera stays in a third-person perspective, but the presentation changes with the situation. The game can frame both players together, separate the view into two perspectives, or emphasize a shared environmental challenge where watching your partner is part of solving the problem.

Combat is present, but Split Fiction is not built around loot, character classes, or long-term stat progression. Its variety comes from changing mechanics and locations rather than from grinding stronger equipment.

Sci-Fi, Fantasy, And Optional Side Stories

The main adventure alternates between Mio's science-fiction ideas and Zoe's fantasy writing. One section may involve robots, futuristic weapons, or gravity-based traversal, while another shifts toward dragons, trolls, magic, or unusual creature encounters.

The contrast is mechanical as well as visual. Players may ride gravity bikes, use hoverboards, manipulate strange devices, fight hostile machines, or take control of abilities that exist only for a particular sequence. These temporary mechanics keep the campaign moving without turning the game into a permanent ability-management system.

Optional Side Stories appear through unusual portals inside the main levels. These diversions explore unfinished ideas from Mio and Zoe's past and function as self-contained co-op scenarios with their own rules, locations, and challenges.

Side Stories are worth seeking out because they are more than collectible rooms or short dialogue scenes. They can transform the players into unusual forms, send them through exaggerated set pieces, or introduce playful movement systems that would not fit the main route.

Players who enjoy the broader variety of Hazelight's previous two-player adventures may find a similar design philosophy in mechanic-switching co-op platformers such as It Takes Two, although Split Fiction places more emphasis on jumping between science-fiction and fantasy concepts.

How The Two-Player Structure Works

Split Fiction expects both players to stay involved. Challenges are built around shared timing, complementary actions, and awareness of what is happening on the other side of the screen.

There is no AI companion mode that replaces the second player. A solo player cannot experience the full campaign alone, which makes the game a poor fit for anyone looking for a conventional single-player platform adventure.

Local play uses shared or split-screen co-op on one PC setup. Online play supports two players on separate systems, and the game preserves its co-op presentation instead of turning the campaign into a standard multiplayer world.

The experience also rewards replaying with a different partner or switching character roles. Because each player sees the other person's actions and participates in different moment-to-moment tasks, a second run can reveal interactions that were easy to miss the first time.

Friend's Pass And Content Model

The paid base game contains the complete co-op adventure. It is not presented as a free-to-play title, and the PC storefront does not list a season pass or a collection of paid gameplay expansions.

Friend's Pass is the most important purchasing detail. One person who owns the full game can invite another player to join the complete online experience for free. The invited player installs the Friend's Pass version and accepts the in-game invitation.

Friend's Pass also supports a free trial when neither player owns the full version. That trial covers the opening portion of the game, after which one player can purchase the full edition and continue the shared progress.

Crossplay works between PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series systems. Online features require a free EA Account, and PC players must link their platform account where required. A persistent internet connection is needed for Friend's Pass and online co-op.

Steam lists the original soundtrack as a separate optional purchase rather than playable campaign content. The main game remains the relevant purchase for players who want the full story and its Side Stories.

PC Features, Controls, And Accessibility

The Steam version supports full controller support, including Xbox controllers and compatible PlayStation input devices. Keyboard and mouse input is available, but a controller is the more natural choice for a platform-heavy game designed around two players sharing a display.

Steam also lists Remote Play Together, Steam Cloud, Steam Achievements, Steam Trading Cards, HDR support, Family Sharing, and cross-platform multiplayer. The game is marked as Steam Deck Verified, giving handheld PC players a supported controller-focused option.

PC storefront options include Steam, the EA app for Windows, and the Epic Games Store. The Steam edition requires acceptance of a third-party EULA, and online features require the EA account connection described by EA.

Accessibility options include remappable controls for each player, separate camera and aiming sensitivity, camera assistance, subtitle backgrounds, closed captions, reduced enemy damage, and the ability to skip to the next checkpoint. Players can also disable camera shake and use a persistent center-screen dot for visual comfort.

The Steam listing identifies 11 supported interface and subtitle languages. Full audio is available in English, French, Italian, German, Spanish from Spain, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese, while Korean, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, and Traditional Chinese are listed with interface and subtitle support.

Who Should Play Split Fiction?

Split Fiction is aimed at players who want a structured two-person adventure rather than an open-world game or a persistent progression system. It works particularly well for friends, couples, siblings, and family members who are comfortable communicating during puzzles and action sequences.

It is a strong fit if you value variety over repetition. The campaign constantly changes its movement rules, environments, and objectives, making it suitable for players who lose interest when a game relies on one combat loop for its entire runtime.

It is less suitable for solo players, competitive multiplayer fans, or anyone who wants deep character builds, extensive loot progression, or an endless endgame. The challenge is based on cooperation and execution, not on optimizing statistics.

Players who prefer a more cinematic prison-break structure can compare it with two-player split-screen action adventures like A Way Out. A Way Out is more focused on a single crime-drama scenario, while Split Fiction is broader, more playful, and more mechanically experimental.

Split Fiction FAQ

Does Split Fiction have a solo mode?

No. Split Fiction is designed for two human players and does not include a full solo campaign with an AI partner. You need another player for local or online co-op.

Can two people play Split Fiction with one copy?

Yes. The owner of the full game can invite one friend through Friend's Pass. The invited player can join the complete online adventure without buying a second full copy.

Does Split Fiction support crossplay on PC?

Yes. PC players can play with users on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series systems. Crossplay requires an EA Account and an active internet connection.

Can you play Split Fiction locally on PC?

Yes. The game supports local shared or split-screen co-op on one PC setup. Two controllers are the most practical arrangement for couch play.

What is the difference between Friend's Pass and the full game?

Friend's Pass lets an invited player join the full campaign when another player owns the game. If neither player owns it, the Friend's Pass version provides a limited trial of the opening stages rather than the complete adventure.

Does Split Fiction include paid gameplay DLC?

The current PC storefront listing presents the base game as the complete playable adventure. It lists the original soundtrack separately, but no season pass or paid gameplay expansion is listed.

What makes the PC version distinctive?

PC players receive full controller support, Remote Play Together, Steam Cloud, HDR support, Steam Deck Verified compatibility, cross-platform multiplayer, extensive subtitle coverage, and accessibility options such as remappable controls and checkpoint skipping.