South of Midnight, a brand-new IP from We Happy Few and Contrast developer Compulsion Games, was announced at today's Xbox Showcase.
The cinematic trailer was pretty mysterious, just showing off some gorgeous American South vibes with a touch of magical realism. Xbox revealed more in an interview posted on its blog today, saying it's a third-person action-adventure that will follow Hazel, who was introduced in the trailer, as she tracks down supernatural creatures that have spilled into the world.
It'll take place in a fictionalized swathe of the U.S. inspired by “the more interesting geological, topographical, cultural, societal, historical areas of the South," creative director David Sears said in the Xbox blog post.
Hazel, who in the trailer is seen asking a skeleton-like man playing the guitar for help seeking a creature, is what's called a Weaver, a "mender of broken bonds and spirits," per the game's Steam page.
"Imbued with these new abilities, Hazel will confront and subdue dangerous creatures, untangle the webs of her own family’s shared past and—if she’s lucky—find her way to a place that feels like home," the description continues.
It's the first game from Compulsion, the studio started by ex-Arkane Studios developer Guillaume Provost, since 2018's survival horror title We Happy Few, which IGN gave a 7.3.
No release date or window was announced, but South of Midnight will be available for Xbox Series X/S, PC, and on Game Pass at launch. For everything announced at today's big Xbox Showcase, check out our roundup.
Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she's not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.
