Two speedrunners have beaten the secret, super-hard level of Split Fiction, Laser Hell. Their reward: an exclusive invite to the Hazelight studio to see the next game in advance.
The critically acclaimed co-op title Split Fiction has only been on the market for two weeks and has already proven to be a real hit, with two million copies sold. But while many of you may have already played through the co-op adventure, there is a secret challenge that only the best of the best can master – and the first to do so will now be rewarded with a very special prize.
Welcome to Laser Hell
The secret level, aptly named Laser Hell, is a punishing platforming challenge. To enter, players must make a binary input via two large yellow buttons in an elevator. After that, it’s off to a hellish obstacle course of five laser sections, where there is absolutely no room for error – because as soon as one of the two players dies, the level starts over.
Josef Fares, the creative mind behind Hazelight Studios, hinted at the secret level but never officially revealed it. However, it wasn’t long before the first hardcore players took on the challenge.
The first winners come from China
On March 17, speedrunner duo sharkOvO and E1uM4y were the first to successfully complete the level – and of course, they recorded the whole thing on video. Their achievement did not go unnoticed, as Fares himself confirmed via Twitter that they were the first known winners of the infernal level. You can watch the two Chinese players’ run here:
But the real surprise came afterwards: In a hidden in-game video, Fares not only congratulates the successful players, but also promises a special reward. The first person to prove that they have beaten Laser Hell will be invited to Sweden to see the next Hazelight game as one of the first ever.
And it was precisely this promise that Fares kept. On March 19, the Hazelight boss tweeted:
Congratulations to sharkOvO and E1uM4y for mastering the secret challenge Laser Hell in Split Fiction! VERY impressive! I will keep my promise and invite you both to Sweden for an early look of our next game. We’ll be in touch!
Congrats to “sharkOvO” and “E1uM4y” for finishing the secret challenge “Laser Hell” in splitficton VERY impressive! I will keep my promise and invite you both to Sweden for an early look of our next game
We’ll be in touch!
— Josef Fares (@josef_fares) March 19, 2025
It was already clear that Hazelight was working on a new game – after all, Split Fiction is currently enjoying huge success and is following in the footsteps of It Takes Two. But now it has been officially confirmed that the studio’s next project may even be at a presentable stage.
The first insights are available exclusively to two players who have fought their way through Laser Hell. And who knows – maybe it won’t be too long before the rest of us find out what Hazelight is working on next. After all, the big event summer with Summer Games Fest and Co. is fast approaching.
