South of Midnight Release Date and Gameplay Overview Revealed at Xbox Developer Direct 2025. Dive into this unique game inspired by Deep South folktales!
Compulsion Games Invites You to South of Midnight
South of Midnight Narrative and Release Date
In an insightful Xbox Wire article, Compulsion Games' writer and narrative designer, Zaire Lanier, shared exciting details about the upcoming action-adventure game, South of Midnight. The game is set to launch on April 8, 2025, and takes place in the fictional town of Prospero, which blends a variety of Southern-inspired settings such as flooded countrysides, abysmal swamps, and Appalachian mountains.
The story trailer introduces us to Hazel, the protagonist, who begins her journey amidst a hurricane. After a heated argument with her mother, Hazel storms out, only to witness their home being swept away by floodwaters. Driven by the need to find her missing mother, Hazel uncovers her true heritage, leading her into a fantastical realm filled with creatures rooted in Southern folklore.
Lanier elaborates on Hazel's encounter with Catfish, a colossal talking creature trapped in a tree due to the hurricane's aftermath. Catfish reveals to Hazel that she is a Weaver, endowed with magical abilities to perceive and manipulate the threads that weave the fabric of fate.
As Hazel navigates her perilous journey, she confronts Haints—corrupted beings that spread decay. Her mission is to use her Weaving powers to liberate these creatures from corruption and restore the world around her.
Experience Hazel's adventure through the American Deep South starting April 3, 2025, with the Premium Edition priced at $49.99 on Steam or the Xbox Store. The standard edition is available for $39.99, and subscribers can enjoy day-one access via Game Pass.
Gameplay Involves Threads and Weaving
South of Midnight introduces a unique gameplay mechanic centered around threads and the magical art of Weaving. Hazel uses these threads, which represent the interconnected tapestry of fate, to combat various types of Haints and unlock spells and abilities.
During the Xbox Developer_Direct 2025, game director Jasmin Roy detailed the game's core combat system, explaining the strategic use of "Push, Pull, and Weave" spells. These spells allow players to gain a tactical edge in battles. Timing is crucial; players can pull distant enemies closer to initiate melee combos, push them away to interrupt and stun their attacks, and then capitalize with follow-up strikes.
Hazel's primary tools are a spindle, two weaving hooks, and a distaff, inspired by textile crafting and traditional spinning wheels. These instruments provide a diverse range of moves and abilities to confront and cleanse Haints of their corruption.
Weaving also plays a significant role in exploration. Hazel utilizes her magical powers to manipulate threads, conjuring past forms of objects to solve puzzles and navigate the environment. During the Direct, she was shown summoning a ghostly carriage and a glider to aid her journey.
Hazel's quest to rescue her mother takes her through varied landscapes, each with its own thematic and environmental uniqueness. Art director Whitney Clayton mentioned that each region is governed by a mythical creature steeped in Southern Gothic lore. One such creature, Two-Toed Tom, an enormous albino alligator adorned with weapons and vegetation, was showcased during the Direct.
To heal these corrupted mythical beings, Hazel must gather Echoes—fragments of haunted memories. These confrontations culminate in epic battles, after which Hazel can use her Weaving powers to restore the creatures and continue her search for her mother.
