Will Xbox Close South Of Midnight Studio?
As rumors of restructuring grow on the Xbox front, attention has now turned to Compulsion Games, the developer of South of Midnight. While various claims have surfaced recently regarding the future of many studios, it’s being said that Compulsion is at the center of this process. No official statement has been made yet, but information suggests that things are quite eventful within Xbox Game Studios.
Compulsion Games Continues to Negotiate with Microsoft
According to updated information reported by Kotaku, Compulsion Games is holding talks with Microsoft regarding its future. Initial claims suggested the studio might be completely shut down. However, later reports indicate that the situation is not yet finalized and negotiations are ongoing between the parties. Bloomberg also supports this scenario, mentioning a similar negotiation process for Double Fine.
Compulsion Games is a studio best known for titles like We Happy Few and South of Midnight. Purchased by Microsoft in 2018, the team has developed notable projects under the Xbox umbrella. South of Midnight, in particular, received positive reviews from critics and won several awards. Therefore, the possibility of the studio closing has caused surprise among gamers.
According to LinkedIn, Compulsion Games has approximately 90 employees. Sources haven’t specified exactly how many people would be affected by a potential closure or layoff. However, some employees sharing on social media that they are looking for new jobs is considered a strong indication that layoffs have already begun at the studio.
It’s claimed that not only Compulsion but other studios on the Xbox side are also at risk. Previously, names like Arkane, Double Fine, and Ninja Theory have also been mentioned in similar reports. Microsoft and Compulsion Games are currently remaining silent, but this uncertainty following the closure of an award-winning game like South of Midnight raises further questions about Xbox’s studio strategy.
Read More: Halo’s PS5 Performance Could Change Xbox’s Exclusive Game Plans
