South of Midnight
News, coverage and analysis tracking South of Midnight across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Nintendo Switch 2 eShop charts – October 25, 2026 – Nintendo Switch Sports Resort holds off Call of Duty
The Nintendo Switch 2 eShop charts for the week of October 25, 2026, show Nintendo Switch Sports Resort retaining the top position, followed closely by Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. New entries like Final Fantasy Resonance and Warrior Cats also made significant appearances in the top rankings.
Xbox's first chief operating officer Helen Chiang leaves Microsoft just three months into the job
Helen Chiang, Xbox's first chief operating officer, has departed Microsoft just three months after assuming the role. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma confirmed the news in an internal memo, citing Chiang's 21 years of service but offering no specific reason for her departure. This move comes amidst a significant restructuring within Xbox that included layoffs and studios becoming independent.
Nintendo Switch 2 eShop charts – October 18, 2026 – Nintendo Switch Sports Resort on top before release
The Nintendo Switch 2 eShop charts for the week of October 18, 2026, show Nintendo Switch Sports Resort leading due to pre-loads. The charts also feature new releases like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 and Resident Evil remakes, alongside other popular titles such as Final Fantasy Resonance and Elden Ring.
Nintendo Switch 2 eShop charts – October 11, 2026 – Kingdom Hearts soars, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 starting off strong
The Nintendo Switch 2 eShop charts for the week of October 11, 2026, show Kingdom Hearts Collection 1-3 retaining the top spot. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 debuted at number two, with several Resident Evil titles also charting strongly.
Xbox aim to wring more cash out of the games they've not cast into oblivion by launching new licensing arm and handing Minecraft to ex-Meta monetisation lead
Xbox is launching a new licensing division, Xbox Products (XP), to generate more revenue from its major game franchises through film, TV, merchandise, and events. This initiative comes as Xbox undergoes significant layoffs, with a total of 3200 employees being let go. Mojang, the developer of Minecraft, has appointed Maria Angelidou-Smith, formerly of Meta, as its new CEO, bringing extensive experience in product and monetization but no direct gaming industry background.
State of Decay 3 Studio Was Going to Be Acquired by Splash Damage Before Deal Fell Through – Rumor
Xbox is reportedly divesting four studios, including Undead Labs, developer of State of Decay 3. A rumored acquisition of Undead Labs by Splash Damage fell through, as did potential deals for Ninja Theory. These moves are part of a larger business "reset" by Xbox, which has also involved significant layoffs and studio reorganizations.
Xbox announces a further 268 layoffs as Ninja Theory and Arkane remain on shaky ground
Xbox announced 268 additional layoffs, impacting studios like Halo Studios and XGS management, following a larger restructure initiated by CEO Asha Sharma. Ninja Theory faces potential closure as two acquisition agreements fell through, while Arkane Studios is still under consultation. This latest round of job cuts brings Xbox closer to its planned total of 3,200 redundancies.
Xbox reportedly set to lay off hundreds more staff and "consolidate" several game studios in second round of major cuts this year
Microsoft's Xbox division is reportedly preparing for a second wave of significant layoffs, with hundreds of employees expected to be affected. The company is also rumored to be consolidating several of its game studios, including those under Bethesda, Activision, and Blizzard. This follows earlier cuts in July and a shift in focus towards established franchises.
Should action games let us skip the action?
Rebel Wolves is considering adding an easier difficulty to The Blood of Dawnwalker, potentially including a combat skip option, following player requests. This move towards greater accessibility is explored through examples like South of Midnight and Dragon Age: The Veilguard, with the article questioning if combat skip is becoming a new standard for narrative-heavy games.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is "not going to shoot my dog," says now-independent Double Fine boss Tim Schafer, who initially opposed Microsoft ownership because "you guys love closing studios"
Double Fine has regained its independence from Microsoft, with founder Tim Schafer expressing relief that new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is not planning to close studios. Schafer initially opposed the acquisition due to Microsoft's history of studio closures, but found the experience under Phil Spencer and Matt Booty to be largely positive until recent leadership changes. The studio announced its new game, Thank You Bus Driver, shortly after regaining independence, though it also had to lay off 23 employees.
Compulsion Games' buyout is complete, so now Microsoft won't get a cut if you buy South of Midnight
Compulsion Games has completed a management buyout, regaining ownership of its intellectual property from Microsoft's Xbox Game Studios. This separation allows Compulsion to retain a larger share of revenue from games like South of Midnight, which received an 83% review score. The studio, also known for We Happy Few and Contrast, is now independent after rumors of closure following recent layoffs.
"Buying any of our games helps support the studio": Psychonauts studio Double Fine are the latest former Xbox-owned studio to get the rights to their games back
Double Fine Productions, the studio behind Psychonauts, has regained the publishing rights to its games from Microsoft. CEO Tim Schafer confirmed the transfer, stating that sales of their games now directly support the studio. The studio also announced the return of their Amnesia Fortnight game jam, with a Kickstarter launching August 31st to fund the initiative.
The newly independent Psychonauts dev now earns all the revenue when you buy games it made under Xbox: 'Buying any…
Double Fine has become an independent studio again after leaving Microsoft's Xbox Game Studios, regaining full publishing rights and revenue for its past games. CEO Tim Schafer confirmed the transition, noting that sales now directly support the studio as it pitches new projects. The studio is also launching a Kickstarter for its Amnesia Fortnight game jam and teased updates for its game Kiln.
Weekend Console Download Deals for Aug. 21: Catching up with Black Myth: Wukong
This weekend's console deals include significant discounts on Black Myth: Wukong for PlayStation and Xbox. Nintendo Switch owners can find deals on Sega titles, Dispatch, and BALL x PIT. Numerous other games across various genres are also on sale for PlayStation and Xbox platforms.
Compulsion Games Is Now Officially An Ex-Xbox Studio
Compulsion Games has officially separated from Microsoft and is no longer an Xbox studio. The studio's management team acquired the company, and Microsoft transferred intellectual property rights, including for 'South of Midnight,' back to Compulsion. This move allows Compulsion to retain its staff and pursue its future projects independently, with plans to secure new financial backing.
Compulsion Games är nu återigen självständiga
Compulsion Games, the studio behind We Happy Few and South of Midnight, has officially become independent after being acquired by Xbox. The studio has bought itself back, regaining full control over its intellectual property and will now self-publish its titles. CEO Guillaume Provost confirmed the team's desire to remain together and continue development on a new title.
IGN Entertainment brings Women In Gaming networking event to Gamescom
IGN Entertainment is hosting a Women in Gaming networking breakfast at Gamescom, supported by GamesIndustry.biz, to foster industry connections. Separately, Compulsion Games has become independent from Xbox, regaining ownership of its intellectual properties including Contrast, We Happy Few, and South of Midnight, with CEO Guillaume Provost prioritizing the team's unity and future profitability.
Compulsion Games officially separates from Xbox – "The team told me we would rather eat rocks and drink gasoline than be split up"
Compulsion Games has officially become independent from Xbox, with CEO Guillaume Provost leading a management buyout that returns ownership of the studio and its intellectual properties to the team. Provost emphasized the decision was made to keep the team together, especially after recent layoffs at Xbox. The studio, known for games like We Happy Few, is now focused on securing stable funding and self-sustainability while exploring new partnerships.
EA staff worries over Saudi buyout, Grand Theft Auto 6 leaks, and Peak's last major update - Patch Notes #66
This article covers several gaming industry developments, including employee concerns at Electronic Arts following a Saudi buyout, ongoing leaks of Grand Theft Auto 6, and the final update for the game Peak. It also touches on FromSoftware's new game The Duskbloods, Compulsion Games' management buyout from Xbox, PlayStation's struggles with live-service games, and the use of AI in game development.
“We’re going to take things slow": South of Midnight devs now own the rights to all their games again, after quitting Xbox, and are working on a new game
Compulsion Games, the studio behind South of Midnight, has completed a management buyout and regained the publishing rights to all its original intellectual properties after parting ways with Microsoft and Xbox. CEO Guillaume Provost stated the team prioritized staying together, and while the transition will take time for platforms beyond Steam, Microsoft provided financial assistance for their independent careers. The studio is now working on an unannounced project and plans to proceed cautiously.
