Overview
- Fares says EA receives more criticism than it deserves, arguing every major publisher has made mistakes and calling Hazelight’s collaboration with EA respectful and hands-off.
- He emphasizes Hazelight’s creative control and says the studio will always do what it wants regardless of publisher reputation.
- Fares vows never to take Hazelight public, citing pressure to prioritize stock performance, and highlights the Friends Pass as a creative-first decision that proved commercially smart.
- On AI, he supports practical tooling but doubts generative systems will replace human vision, stating he doesn’t see AI “taking over.”
- He cautions publishers against overcorrecting toward AA budgets and says the industry needs AAA as well, while Ubisoft veteran Alex Hutchinson counters that mid-budget funding is already an “absolute wasteland.”