TL;DR — Split Fiction, the co-op action-adventure from Hazelight Studios (creators of It Takes Two), is $32.49 on Steam (was $49.99, 35% off) as of June 15, 2026 [^steam]. IsThereAnyDeal confirms this is a new all-time low — the previous best was $34.99 (30% off, March/April 2026) [^itad]. Sale ends June 25, 2026 [^steam]. Since you need a co-op partner, the Friend’s Pass lets one copy cover two players — $16.25 each for ~15 hours of universal-acclaim co-op.
What you get for $32.49
Hazelight Studios’ follow-up to their 2021 Game of the Year winner It Takes Two [^steam]. Split Fiction is co-op only — designed from the ground up for two players (local split-screen or online). You play as Mio (sci-fi writer) and Zoe (fantasy writer) trapped in a machine stealing their creative ideas. To escape, you jump between their contrasting story worlds:
- Sci-fi stages: Cyber ninja combat, hover-car dodging, robotic parking attendants
- Fantasy stages: Dragon taming, troll escapes, magical platforming
- Side Stories: Optional portals with one-off mechanics (e.g., “water ski behind a train”)
Friend’s Pass: The game owner can invite one friend to play the full game free — the guest only needs to install the free Friend’s Pass app [^steam]. Cross-platform online play is supported (Steam ↔ PS5 ↔ Xbox ↔ Switch 2).
Key specs: 85 GB storage, requires EA Account + persistent internet [^steam], Steam Deck Verified (Proton: Platinum) [^protondb].
Price history: The receipts (IsThereAnyDeal, not marketing)
| Rank | Price | Store | Date | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $32.49 | Steam | Jun 15, 2026 | NEW all-time low — 35% off [^itad] |
| 2 | $32.49 | EA Store | Jun 15, 2026 | Matches Steam, 23 days left [^itad] |
| 3 | $34.99 | Steam | Apr 23, 2026 | Previous low — 30% off [^itad] |
| 4 | $34.99 | EA Store | Mar 11, 2026 | Previous low — 30% off [^itad] |
| 5 | $49.99 | Epic Games Store | Current | No discount [^itad] |
| — | $49.99 | All stores | Launch (Mar 2025) | Full price |
The pattern: 30% off ($34.99) happened twice (March & April 2026). 35% off ($32.49) is a new floor — the deepest discount since launch. Sale ends June 25 on Steam, ~23 days on EA Store [^itad].
💡 MoneyMind Take: At $32.49 you’re $2.50 below the previous historical low. For a 15-hour co-op masterpiece rated 97% positive, this is the price to buy. If you and a partner have any interest, grab it now — the Friend’s Pass means $16.25 each for ~15 hours of universal-acclaim co-op.
Critical reception: universal acclaim, but not flawless
The consensus: Metacritic 93, OpenCritic 98% recommend, Steam 97% positive (74,784 reviews) [^mc][^oc][^steam]. Critics call it “contender for best game of 2025” (GameSpot, perfect score), “co-op masterpiece” (GameReactor UK, top marks), “best co-op experience today” (Inverse, highest rating).
Where it loses points (the differentiation):
– Hard co-op requirement — no solo mode, no AI partner. If your partner quits, you stop. Several critics noted this limits accessibility [^mc].
– EA Account + persistent internet mandatory — even for local split-screen. Offline play impossible. A friction point for some [^steam].
– Pacing spikes — a few reviewers (Edge, Polygon) felt some one-off mechanics overstay their welcome or feel under-tutorialized [^mc].
– Story beats familiar — the “corporate steals creativity” metaphor echoes It Takes Two‘s themes. Some found it less emotionally resonant second time around [^mc].
– 85 GB install — large for a 15-hour game. SSD space matters [^steam].
Bottom line on reception: The high scores are earned — the moment-to-moment co-op design is best-in-class. But the “perfect 10” scores don’t mean flawless; they mean the highs vastly outweigh the specific, known limitations above.
System requirements & compatibility
| Spec | Minimum (1080p/30 Low) | Recommended (1440p/60 High) |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10/11 64-bit | Windows 10/11 64-bit |
| CPU | i5-6600K / Ryzen 5 2600X | i7-11700K / Ryzen 7 5800X |
| RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| GPU | GTX 970 4GB / RX 470 4GB | RTX 3070 8GB / RX 6700 XT 12GB |
| Storage | 85 GB | 85 GB |
| Network | Broadband (persistent) | Broadband (persistent) |
Linux / Steam Deck: ProtonDB Platinum — works out of the box [^protondb]. Steam Deck Verified [^steam].
Account requirements: Steam Account + EA Account (must be linked) [^steam]. Persistent internet mandatory. EA User Agreement acceptance required. No offline mode.
How to verify this deal yourself (step-by-step)
- Open the Steam store page — price shows $32.49 with crossed-out $49.99 and “35% OFF” badge. Sale end date reads “Ends June 25” [^steam].
- Check SteamDB price history — confirms 35% off is the deepest discount recorded; previous low $34.99 (30%) [^steamdb].
- Check IsThereAnyDeal — all-time low $32.49 recorded June 15, 2026 on Steam and EA Store. Epic at $49.99 full price [^itad].
- Verify Friend’s Pass: Steam page “Friend’s Pass” section explains the free guest install process [^steam].
- Verify system requirements: Steam page “System Requirements” tab lists 85 GB, GTX 970 minimum, EA Account required [^steam].
All sources checked live June 15, 2026. Prices in USD; regional pricing may vary.
How to buy (if you decide to)
- Open Steam store page or EA Store.
- Add to cart → checkout at $32.49 (or $38.23 for Game + Soundtrack bundle).
- Install ~85 GB. Launch → link EA Account → invite friend via Friend’s Pass.
- Friend installs free Friend’s Pass → join via invite → play full game free.
One copy = two players. No second purchase needed.
Buy-vs-Wait: The decision matrix
| You are… | Action | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Have a co-op partner ready this month | Buy | New all-time low ($32.49), 15h masterpiece, $16.25 each with Friend’s Pass. |
| No partner yet, but want to play eventually | Buy | Price unlikely to drop further soon; previous low $34.99 held for months. Gift a copy later. |
| Backlog buyer (play in 3+ months) | Buy | 35% is the new floor. Next sale (Autumn) might hit 40% ($30) but not guaranteed. |
| Only play single-player games | Skip | Hard co-op requirement — cannot solo. No AI partner. |
| Don’t want EA Account / persistent internet | Skip | Mandatory for this title. No offline mode, no workaround. |
| Waiting for 40%+ off | Wait | Possible Autumn Sale (Nov), but $34.99 held for months. $2.50 saved vs $32.49 — your call. |
Sale pressure: Steam sale ends June 25 (9 days). EA Store sale runs ~23 days. The 35% is the deepest discount to date.
How this compares to the co-op competition
| Game | Status | Current Price | Co-op Type | Playtime | Metacritic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Split Fiction | 1.0 (2025) | $32.49 | Mandatory 2P, split-screen/online | ~15 hrs | 93 |
| It Takes Two | 1.0 (2021) | $19.99 (often) | Mandatory 2P, split-screen/online | ~14 hrs | 89 |
| A Way Out | 1.0 (2018) | $9.99 (often) | Mandatory 2P, split-screen/online | ~6 hrs | 79 |
| Baldur’s Gate 3 | 1.0 (2023) | $59.99 | Optional 2-4P, online only | 60+ hrs | 96 |
| Deep Rock Galactic | 1.0 (2020) | $29.99 | 1-4P, online | Endless | 93 |
It Takes Two at ~$20 is the better value if you haven’t played it — same studio, same co-op magic, cheaper. But Split Fiction at $32.49 is the better buy if you’ve finished It Takes Two and want more of that exact design philosophy — more varied mechanics, better polish, stronger writing.
The “should you wait for Autumn Sale?” calculation
| Scenario | Buy now ($32.49) | Wait for Autumn (est. $30) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Play in June/July | $32.49 | N/A (miss 3 months) | — |
| Play in November | $32.49 | $30 (if 40% happens) | $2.49 saved |
| Play in November, no 40% sale | $32.49 | $34.99 (30% again) | $2.50 lost |
| Never play (backlog) | $32.49 | $30–$35 | $2.50–$5 risk |
The math: You risk $2.50 to save $2.50, but you lose 3–5 months of potential playtime. For a 15-hour game, that’s a poor trade unless you’re certain you won’t play until November and a 40% sale materializes. The 30% floor has held for 6 months; 40% is speculative.
FAQ (the questions people actually ask)
Do I need two copies to play?
No. Friend’s Pass: one owner buys, invites one friend free. Friend installs Friend’s Pass app (separate free download).
Can I play solo?
No. Hard co-op requirement — designed for two players from the ground up. No AI partner, no single-player mode.
Is cross-play supported?
Yes. Steam ↔ PS5 ↔ Xbox Series X/S ↔ Switch 2. All need EA Account linked.
Steam Deck compatible?
Yes. Verified. ProtonDB Platinum. 85 GB storage needed.
EA Account mandatory?
Yes. Must link EA Account at launch. Persistent internet required. No offline mode.
How long is the game?
~14 hrs main story, ~15 hrs with Side Stories, ~16 hrs completionist (HowLongToBeat) [^hltb].
DLC / microtransactions?
Only the $9.99 Soundtrack DLC. No gameplay microtransactions. All content in base game.
Regional pricing?
Steam regional pricing applies. Check your local store page for exact currency amount.
Bottom Line
Split Fiction at $32.49 (35% off) is a new all-time low for Hazelight’s co-op masterpiece.
- Cost: $32.49 (was $49.99) — verified live on Steam June 15, 2026
- Historical low: $32.49 (this week) — beats previous $34.99 (30% off, Mar/Apr 2026)
- Sale ends: June 25, 2026 (Steam) / ~23 days (EA Store)
- Time investment: ~14–16 hours for the full experience
- Co-op cost: $16.25 per person with Friend’s Pass
- Risk: Low. Universal acclaim (97% Steam, 93 Metacritic), active dev, no MTX.
- Known limitations: Hard co-op mandatory, EA Account + internet required, 85 GB, familiar themes.
- Verdict: If you have a co-op partner and want the best 2-player game since It Takes Two → buy now. If no partner yet but plan to play → buy now, gift later. Solo-only → skip.
Related: It Takes Two review, Best co-op games 2026, A Way Out deal.
Sources
[^steam]: Steam store page — live verified Jun 15, 2026, price, sale end, specs, reviews, Friend’s Pass details
[^itad]: IsThereAnyDeal — all-time low $32.49 recorded Jun 15, 2026, price history, store comparison
[^steamdb]: SteamDB — concurrent players, price history, peak players
[^mc]: Metacritic — critic scores, review excerpts including critical points
[^oc]: OpenCritic — aggregated critic consensus
[^protondb]: ProtonDB — Linux/Steam Deck compatibility
[^hltb]: HowLongToBeat — playtime estimates
Deal verified live June 15, 2026. Price: $32.49 (was $49.99). Discount: 35%. Expires June 25, 2026.
