Why the Developer Behind It Takes Two Wants to Slow Down His Creative Process

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Many have probably heard the name Josef Fares before and think of iconic films such as Jalla Jalla, Farsan, or Kopps. Something many may not be as familiar with is that Josef Fares has been a hot game developer in recent years behind some real game successes such as A Way Out and It Takes Two.

The gaming industry across the world but especially in Sweden is a fast-moving industry where new innovation plays a vital role, but Fares has now made headlines with his statement that the industry should slow down the creative process. He believes that the fast pace of the industry comes at the expense of creativity and an emotional immersion in the games. This has been a sign of today's times, where Swedish industries that are technology-driven, such as casino, games and the like have experienced an exponential growth curve, but is it going too fast?

Fare's thoughts are perhaps not entirely unjustified as he has achieved great success in the gaming industry through his unique way of portraying characters and telling stories through the game. According to him, a more thoughtful approach leads to a richer and more meaningful gaming experience.

Today's article will take a closer look at the gaming industry and delve a little deeper into Fare's comments to better understand how today's pace affects the creative process, so stay tuned.

The fast pace of the gaming industry

The gaming industry is often characterized by tight deadlines and there is almost constant stress to launch games on time. Major game development studios often work under heavy pressure and one of the consequences of this is that creative freedom is curtailed.

The new model in the gaming world "games-as-a-service" that many developers have adopted does not make matters better when games require continuous updates with things like expansion packs and the like to keep players engaged.

Easier for smaller studios

However, smaller game studios and independent developers have an advantage as they don't have the same pressure or expectations on them, this is also the case for Josef Fare. With his acclaimed success It Takes Two, where the game is characterized by an innovative cooperative mode and gripping story, Fares has proven his thesis.

The game's success and warm reception is a testament to taking the time to do things properly and daring to put more emphasis on the creative process. This is something he will take with him in future projects.

When speed trumps creativity

Underpinning Fare's philosophy is his belief that creativity has nothing to force, especially during a high tempo. This is something that can be seen with larger gaming companies where compromises are made that drag down the gaming experience.

This often involves cutting content from the game, shortening the stories or simplifying parts of the game mechanics. Rockstar is one of the few exceptions in the sense that they put a lot of effort into making sure that their long awaited GTA 6 must be perfect and is not afraid to postpone the launch.

Creativity takes time

Fares believes that the creative process is like a puzzle where things need to be tested, reflections are required and there must be room for experimentation. He is very keen that things should not be rushed to risk ideas being lost or not reaching their full potential.

For that reason, his team has a lot of freedom to hone mechanics and explore innovative ways to tell stories. Their ethos is a deeper connection to the material with a goal that players should have an emotional connection to the game, not just superficially.

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The future of Hazelight Studios

As for the future of Josef Fares and his game studio Hazelight, the focus will continue to be creativity and quality over speed. Fares also continues to push for future projects to get more time so they get the attention they deserve.

This likely means that fans will have to wait a while for Hazelight's next game, but with “It Takes Two” and “A Way Out” as frames of reference, fans can assume that the next game will be worth the wait.