Compulsion Games’ buyout is complete, so now Microsoft won’t get a cut if you buy South of Midnight
Compulsion Games has regained independence after completing its separation from Xbox Game Studios. The studio, known for the critically acclaimed South of Midnight, is no longer owned by Microsoft, meaning the company will no longer receive revenue from future sales of the game or other Compulsion titles.
The split follows a period of uncertainty for the studio, as closure rumors emerged in the wake of Microsoft’s recent round of layoffs across Xbox Game Studios. Rather than face an uncertain future under Xbox ownership, Compulsion Games pursued independence and alternative publishing partnerships. CEO Guillaume Provost detailed the transition with GamesBeat.
South of Midnight, which received strong critical acclaim with an 83% review score and was praised as “a Deep South delight drenched in superstition and pain,” was developed during Compulsion’s period under Xbox. The studio’s transition to independence underscores ongoing volatility within the video game industry, as major publishers consolidate and restructure their internal studio portfolios.