South of Midnight: Release Date and Gameplay Revealed at Xbox Developer Direct 2025

South of Midnight Release Date and Gameplay Overview Revealed at Xbox Developer Direct 2025. Dive into the enchanting world inspired by Deep South folktales!

Compulsion Games Invites You to South of Midnight

South of Midnight Narrative and Release Date

Compulsion Games' writer and narrative designer, Zaire Lanier, shared exciting details about the upcoming action-adventure game, South of Midnight, in an Xbox Wire article. The game is set to launch on April 8, 2025, and will immerse players in the mystical town of Prospero, featuring a variety of Southern-inspired locales, from flooded countrysides to abysmal swamps and the Appalachian mountains.

The story kicks off with protagonist Hazel and her mother preparing for a hurricane. After a heated argument, Hazel leaves the house, only to witness it being swept away by a devastating flood. Driven by the desire to find her lost mother, Hazel embarks on a quest that uncovers her true heritage and plunges her into a realm filled with creatures from Southern folklore.

Lanier elaborated, "Hazel begins to see fantastical phenomena all over Prospero, including meeting Catfish, an enormous – and talking – creature in his own right, stuck in a tree following the hurricane’s destruction." Catfish reveals to Hazel that she is a Weaver, endowed with magical abilities to perceive and manipulate the threads that weave the tapestry of fate.

As Hazel navigates her perilous journey, she encounters Haints, corrupted beings that spread decay. Her mission is to master her Weaving powers to cleanse these creatures and restore the world around her.

You can join Hazel on her adventure in the American Deep South as early as April 3, 2025, by purchasing the Premium Edition for $49.99 on Steam or the Xbox Store. The standard edition will be available for $39.99, and the game will also be accessible on day one with a Game Pass subscription.

Gameplay Involves Threads and Weaving

South of Midnight introduces an innovative gameplay mechanic centered around threads and Weaving. As Hazel, players will harness the power of Weaving to unlock spells and abilities crucial for combat against various types of Haints.

In the Xbox Developer_Direct 2025, game director Jasmin Roy detailed the core combat mechanics, explaining, "Push, Pull, and Weave are some of the spells at your disposal that give you a tactical advantage during a fight. Timing is everything. Pull distant enemies close to start melee combos, push them back to interrupt and stun their attack, then press the advantage with follow-up strikes."

Hazel's arsenal includes a spindle, two weaving hooks, and a distaff, inspired by traditional textile crafting tools. These weapons enable diverse combat strategies and movesets, essential for purging the corruption from Haints.

Weaving also plays a significant role in exploration. Hazel uses her magical powers to manipulate threads, conjuring past incarnations of objects to aid in navigating the environment and solving puzzles. During the Direct, she was seen summoning a spectral carriage and a glider to traverse the game world.

As Hazel ventures through distinct regions, each with its own thematic environment, she encounters mythical creatures rooted in Southern Gothic lore. Art director Whitney Clayton highlighted one such creature, Two-Toed Tom, a colossal albino alligator adorned with weapons and overgrown vegetation.

To heal these corrupted beings, Hazel must gather Echoes, fragments of haunted memories. Confrontations with these creatures are inevitable, leading to epic battles followed by the use of Weaving to restore them to their former state.

With a rich tapestry of areas to explore and mythical creatures to heal, Hazel's journey is one of discovery and redemption, utilizing her Weaving powers to ultimately reunite with her mother.