Compulsion Games has officially separated from Xbox
The studio behind South of Midnight has officially departed from Microsoft's gaming division and has become independent. This separation was discussed by the head of Compulsion Games, Guillaume Provost, in an interview with GamesBeat.
South of Midnight
The top manager did not disclose all the terms of the deal between Compulsion Games and Microsoft but shared a few details. For instance, he confirmed that the studio was bought out by its management, who also ensured they obtained the rights to the intellectual property from the corporation. However, the rights are still in the process of being transferred—while developers already manage their games independently on Steam, Microsoft is still listed as the publisher on Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch.
Provost reminded that the alternative to buying out Compulsion Games was a much bleaker scenario—closure of the studio.
"I made the deal primarily for the team. I asked the team, 'Do you want to stay together?' They replied that they'd rather eat rocks and drink gasoline than agree to part ways," Provost stated.
Currently, Compulsion Games is seeking financial partners to ensure the stable operation of the studio. According to Provost, he is not rushing to attract investments immediately but wants to be certain that Compulsion Games has a bright future. The top manager has already held a number of meetings with potential partners, although he did not disclose who he spoke with.
During the conversation with GamesBeat, Provost also mentioned that Compulsion Games continues to work on a new game that began development while still part of Xbox.
Compulsion Games is not the only studio leaving Xbox. It was previously reported that Double Fine, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs also regain their independence.