South of Midnight Developer Compulsion Games Buys Independence From Xbox
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Compulsion Games has completed a management buyout from Microsoft, regaining full ownership of its intellectual properties and returning to independence with financial runway.
Compulsion Games is officially striking out on its own once again. Following a management buyout from Microsoft, the studio behind South of Midnight and We Happy Few has reclaimed full rights to its original intellectual properties and its publishing control. According to an interview with Gamesbeat, CEO Guillaume Provost explained that the primary motivation was keeping the development team together through a tumultuous corporate restructuring period that saw sweeping industry layoffs across major publishers this summer.
The separation gives the studio a fresh start, though the team is currently taking a measured approach to its next moves. While the transition for digital storefronts like Steam is underway, transferring catalogue rights on other consoles will take additional time. Microsoft has reportedly provided initial financial runway to help ease the studio back into independence, and the team is already continuing work on an unannounced project that began during their time under the Xbox umbrella.
For players, this shift means future purchases of South of Midnight on Steam will go directly to supporting the independent studio. As the team evaluates potential partnerships and new licensing opportunities, they are leaning into their roots as a lean operation. Having originally founded the company during the 2009 recession, Provost is relying on that same foundational thriftiness to navigate today's shifting industry landscape while ensuring long-term stability for the developers.
Tags: Industry News, Xbox, Independent, Compulsion Games, PC Gaming
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun