South of Midnight Release Date and Gameplay Overview Revealed at Xbox Developer Direct 2025
Dive into the enchanting world of South of Midnight, a new action-adventure game inspired by the rich tapestry of Deep South folktales. Compulsion Games has unveiled thrilling details about the game's narrative and gameplay, along with its eagerly anticipated release date.
Compulsion Games Invites You to South of Midnight
South of Midnight Narrative and Release Date
In a recent Xbox Wire article, Compulsion Games' writer and narrative designer, Zaire Lanier, shared fascinating insights into the story of South of Midnight. The game is set to launch on April 8, 2025, and takes place in the fictional town of Prospero, a melting pot of Southern-inspired settings including flooded countrysides, abysmal swamps, and the Appalachian mountains.
The narrative begins with Hazel, the protagonist, and her mother preparing for a hurricane. Following a heated argument, Hazel storms out, only to witness her home being swept away by the flood. Her quest to find her lost mother leads her to uncover her true heritage, thrusting her into a world where Southern folklore comes to life.
Lanier explained, "Hazel begins to see fantastical phenomena all over Prospero, including meeting Catfish, an enormous – and talking – creature in his own right, stuck in a tree following the hurricane’s destruction." Catfish reveals to Hazel that she is a Weaver, someone endowed with magical powers to see and manipulate the threads that weave the fabric of fate.
As Hazel navigates this magical world, she must combat Haints, corrupted creatures that spread decay. Mastering her Weaving abilities is crucial to purifying these beings and restoring the land.
You can embark on Hazel’s journey in the American Deep South as early as April 3, 2025, by purchasing the Premium Edition for $49.99 on Steam or the Xbox Store. The standard edition is priced at $39.99, and the game will also be available on day one with a Game Pass subscription.
Gameplay Involves Threads and Weaving
South of Midnight introduces an innovative gameplay mechanic centered around threads and the mystical art of Weaving. As Hazel, players will manipulate these threads to unlock spells and abilities, essential for battling various types of Haints.
During the Xbox Developer Direct 2025, game director Jasmin Roy outlined the core combat mechanics. "Push, Pull, and Weave are some of the spells at your disposal that give you a tactical advantage during a fight. Timing is everything. Pull distant enemies close to start melee combos, push them back to interrupt and stun their attack, then press the advantage with follow-up strikes."
Hazel's arsenal includes a spindle, two weaving hooks, and a distaff, all inspired by textile crafting and traditional spinning wheels. These tools offer diverse combat strategies and abilities to cleanse the Haints of their corruption.
Weaving also plays a key role in exploration. Hazel will use her powers to weave and manipulate threads, conjuring past incarnations of objects to solve puzzles and explore. Examples shown include a ghostly carriage and a glider.
Hazel's journey will take her through various themed environments, each governed by a mythical creature steeped in Southern Gothic lore. Art director Whitney Clayton highlighted one such creature, Two-Toed Tom, a colossal albino alligator adorned with weapons and vegetation.
To heal these corrupted beings, Hazel must collect Echoes, fragments of haunted memories. Confrontations with these mythical creatures are inevitable, leading to epic battles before they can be healed.
With a world brimming with areas to explore and mythical beings to restore, Hazel's use of Weaving powers will be crucial in her quest to find her mother and bring peace to the land.
