All articles tagged with #south of midnight
Compulsion Games, the studio behind South of Midnight, is looking for development partnerships after being spun off from Xbox. In a LinkedIn post, the studio invites other studios to collaborate on new projects, highlighting the need for partnerships as funding for ambitious games remains scarce and publishers focus on deals that protect their investments.
Days after Compulsion Games regained independence from Microsoft amid Xbox layoffs, the studio says it is open to collaborating on external projects and helping to develop memorable experiences, while retaining IP rights to South of Midnight, We Happy Few and Contrast; the move highlights a volatile industry climate where indie studios seek funding and publishing opportunities as publishers trim staff.
Compulsion Games and Double Fine announce they will return to independent management after their time with Xbox, retaining ownership of Contrast, We Happy Few, and South of Midnight. This follows Xbox's July 6 layoffs of 3,200 staff and the divestment of five studios, with Ninja Theory and Undead Labs in acquisition and Arkane Lyon entering a consultation period. Both studios express gratitude to Xbox and anticipate the next chapter as independent entities.
Bloomberg reports that staff at Compulsion Games’ South of Midnight division have been given permission to openly seek new jobs ahead of anticipated Xbox layoffs in July; no dismissals have occurred yet, but leadership reportedly expects job losses, with potential outcomes including studio closure or spin-off under new ownership; other Xbox studios like Ninja Theory and Double Fine are in similar negotiations.
Microsoft is reportedly considering closing Compulsion Games (South of Midnight) as part of a broader Xbox studio crisis, with Double Fine and Ninja Theory also at risk; leadership is negotiating the studio’s fate, and Bloomberg says several Xbox studios may be folded or spun off to avoid total collapse, while layoffs and leadership exits, including Craig Duncan and Louise O’Connor, are part of the shakeup; South of Midnight has recently won major awards.
Rumors that Xbox could shut down Compulsion Games circulated, but Kotaku later reported leadership is negotiating with Microsoft about the studio’s fate; no details have been disclosed and Microsoft did not comment. Compulsion, known for South of Midnight and We Happy Few, reportedly employs around 100 people; the latest title was praised creatively but had limited commercial impact. The outcome remains unconfirmed.
Kotaku reports Xbox plans to shutter Compulsion Games, the Peabody Award-winning studio behind South of Midnight (and We Happy Few); the exact number of affected employees is unclear—LinkedIn lists around 90, though insiders say the total may be higher—and some staff have started job-hunting. The move comes amid broader leadership changes and financial tensions at Xbox, with no official comment from the company.
Kotaku's The Week In Games for March 30, 2026 notes a relatively quiet release slate, led by South of Midnight’s port to PS5 and Switch 2, Super Meat Boy 3D launching on PS5/Xbox Series X/S/Switch 2/PC with mixed reviews, and I Am Jesus Christ arriving on PC; Warframe also gets a next-gen upgrade for Nintendo Switch 2, with several smaller titles sprinkled through the week.
The Xbox-owned studio Compulsion Games, developer of South of Midnight, is expanding its team for an all-new, unnamed IP. The studio posted permanent and fixed-term roles (Lead Gameplay Programmer, Engine Programmer, Senior Level Designer, Senior Character Artist) on LinkedIn, signaling work on a fresh original project under Xbox Game Studios. Compened by Microsoft in 2018, Compulsion previously worked on South of Midnight and We Happy Few, and its new project follows a shift toward a new IP under the Xbox umbrella.
Xbox confirms Compulsion Games' South of Midnight is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on March 31, 2026, following its Xbox Series X|S release last year, with Bethesda's Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition also released on Switch 2 recently.
South of Midnight, Compulsion Games’ award-winning 2025 action-adventure originally on Xbox Series X|S and PC, is coming to PS5 on March 31, 2026, bringing its stop-motion-style cutscenes and Hazel’s weaving powers to PlayStation after winning Games for Impact at The Game Awards 2025, plus a D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Animation and an Annie Award for Best Character Animation.
The article highlights four top Xbox-exclusive games of 2025—South of Midnight, Keeper, Avowed, and Grounded 2—each offering unique experiences ranging from gothic storytelling and artistic puzzles to expansive RPG worlds and inventive survival adventures, emphasizing the evolving landscape of Xbox exclusives in a year of diverse gaming innovations.
South of Midnight, an upcoming adventure game from Compulsion Games and Xbox Game Studios, is set to launch in 2025 on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. The game, which embraces Southern Gothic themes, features a diverse cast and expert storytelling to bring its fantastical world to life. A documentary has been released detailing the game's development, art, and music. Preorders for an art and music bundle are available, though the game's release date is yet to be announced.
The Xbox Games Showcase 2023 featured a plethora of exciting games, but Starfield emerged as the "Best in Show" due to its unprecedented scope and scale. Other notable games include Avowed, South of Midnight, and Metaphor: ReFantazio. The showcase also demonstrated Microsoft's commitment to the video games industry and presented both near-term and longer-term titles worth getting excited about.
South of Midnight is a magical realist occult adventure game from Compulsion Games, the makers of We Happy Few, that explores the folklore, music, and rural environments of a fictionalized South. The game follows protagonist Hazel, a Weaver who can use magic for combat and traversal, on a quest to repair a broken world by taking on mythical creatures drawn from Southern folklore. The game is set to release on Windows PC and Xbox Series X, Game Pass, and Steam, but no release date has been announced yet. The game's setting and lead character are underrepresented in gaming, and Compulsion Games has sought outside help to ensure sensitive handling of the subject matter.