South of Midnight is an upcoming action-adventure game developed by Compulsion Games and published by Xbox Game Studios. The game is set in a fictionalized American Deep South. It is scheduled to be released for Windows and Xbox Series X/S in 2025.
| South of Midnight | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Compulsion Games |
| Publisher(s) | Xbox Game Studios |
| Director(s) | David Sears |
| Artist(s) | Whitney Clayton |
| Writer(s) | David Sears |
| Composer(s) | Olivier Deriviere |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 5[1] |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release | 2025 |
| Genre(s) | Action-adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Gameplay
editSouth of Midnight is a third-person action-adventure game. Players take on the role of Hazel, who learns an ancient weaving power to explore the Deep South mythos and confront mysterious creatures.[2] The gameplay is centered around Hazel’s ability to use her weaving powers for combat, traversal, and solving puzzles. The game emulates stop-motion animation for its cutscenes.[3] The game has a dark modern folktale driven by character development, lyrical music inspired by the American South, and a narrative that delves into Southern folklore.[1][4]
Premise
editThe game is set in a gothic fantasy American Deep South setting. South of Midnight follows Hazel’s journey after a hurricane devastates her hometown of Prospero. Pulled into a Southern Gothic reality where folklore creatures emerge, Hazel must become a Weaver—a magical mender of broken bonds and spirits. Along the way, Hazel encounters all kinds of mythical creatures based on Southern American legends.[2] As she confronts enemy creatures known as Haints and untangles her family’s past, Hazel seeks to reweave the tears in the Grand Tapestry and find a place that feels like home.[5]
Development
editSouth of Midnight is being developed by Compulsion Games, the creators of We Happy Few and Contrast. It marks Compulsion's first game developed under Xbox Game Studios, following their acquisition by the company in 2018. The game was originally developed under the codename Project Midnight. Details of the game first leaked via Windows Central in 2021, where concept art was revealed.[6] The game was officially announced at Xbox Games Showcase on June 11, 2023.[7] On June 9, 2024, Compulsion Games showcased the first gameplay trailer for the game and announced that it would be released in 2025.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b Wald, Heather; Gould-Wilson, Jasmine (June 11, 2023). "South of Midnight: Everything we know so far". GamesRadar+. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
- ^ a b Cope, Alexander (May 23, 2024). "South of Midnight FAQ: Xbox Game Pass, story, platforms, and everything you need to know". Windows Central. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
- ^ Northup, Travis (November 12, 2024). "South of Midnight First Preview: Compulsion Games Bets Big on Art, Music, and Deep South Folklore". IGN. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
- ^ Randall, Harvey (June 9, 2024). "South of Midnight, a gorgeous action adventure game with weighty, Souls-adjacent combat and stylised cutscenes will be dodge-rolling onto PC next year". PC Gamer. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
- ^ Bacabac, Aaron (June 11, 2024). "South of Midnight Gameplay and Story Info | Everything We Know So Far". Game8. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
- ^ Corden, Jez (November 11, 2021). "New upcoming Xbox exclusives revealed: Project 'Midnight' from Compulsion and 'Pentiment' from Obsidian". Windows Central. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
- ^ Stedman, Alex (June 11, 2023). "South of Midnight, New Game From We Happy Few Developer, Unveiled at Xbox Showcase". IGN. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
- ^ Stewart, Marcus (June 9, 2024). "Southern Gothic Action Game South Of Midnight Gets First Gameplay Trailer And 2025 Launch Window". Game Informer. Archived from the original on June 9, 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2024.