South of Midnight Debuts at Xbox Developer Direct 2025

Discover the release date and gameplay details of South of Midnight showcased at Xbox Developer Direct 2025. Dive into this action-adventure game steeped in Deep South folklore!

Explore the Mystical World of South of Midnight

Story and Release Timeline

Zaire Lanier, writer and narrative designer at Compulsion Games, unveiled new story insights for South of Midnight in a recent Xbox Wire article, confirming an April 8, 2025 release. Set in the fictional town of Prospero, players will traverse diverse Southern landscapes—from submerged fields to treacherous swamps and Appalachian peaks.

The story follows Hazel, a young protagonist whose life changes when a hurricane tears through her hometown. After a heated exchange with her mother, Hazel steps outside just in time to witness their home being swept away by floodwaters. Her desperate search for her missing mother leads to the shocking discovery of her ancestral legacy, thrusting her into a world where Southern myths come alive.

"Hazel encounters surreal wonders across Prospero," Lanier explains. "Her meeting with Catfish—a colossal, sentient being trapped in a storm-wrecked tree—reveals her destiny as a Weaver. These gifted individuals perceive and manipulate the threads that compose fate’s tapestry."

This revelation grants Hazel the ability to see and shape cosmic connections. But her path is fraught with peril. The Haints—twisted entities spreading blight—must be cleansed using her Weaving magic to "restore balance to their corrupted domains."

Adventurers can join Hazel’s quest starting April 3, 2025 by purchasing the $49.99 Premium Edition on Steam or Xbox. The standard edition retails for $39.99, while Game Pass subscribers gain day-one access.

Combat: The Art of Thread Manipulation

South of Midnight revolutionizes combat through "Weaving"—a magic system manipulating the threads of destiny. Hazel wields this power alongside unlockable spells to confront various Haints.

Game director Jasmin Roy outlined the combat mechanics during Xbox Developer_Direct 2025: "Master Push, Pull, and Weave spells to control engagements. Drag foes close for melee assaults, repel charging attackers, then exploit openings with precision strikes—every motion must be deliberate."

Her toolkit—a spindle, dual weaving hooks, and distaff—draws inspiration from textile crafts. These implement diverse fighting styles to purify corrupted beings.

Weaving extends beyond combat. By manipulating threads, Hazel summons spectral constructs like phantom carriages and makeshift gliders to navigate obstacles and solve environmental puzzles.

Art director Whitney Clayton teased varied biomes, each governed by legendary entities like Two-Toed Tom—an armored albino alligator draped in vegetation. To heal these tainted guardians, Hazel must first defeat them in spectacular battles after gathering their lost Echoes (fragments of tormented memories).

This journey through shifting realities demands mastery of Weaving magic—not just to redeem corrupted myths, but ultimately to reunite a fractured family.