South of Midnight: Trailer, platforms & everything we know so far

South of Midnight is a new third-person action-adventure game from Compulsion Games, the creators of We Happy Few.

South of Midnight was first announced at the 2023 Xbox Showcase in June, where we were treated to a stunning stop-motion animation trailer that offered a glimpse into the game’s setting and narrative.

The showcase also introduced some of the characters, including the protagonist. Two years later, in 2025, we now have a gameplay trailer, and a big announcement is right around the corner.

Xbox describes the game as “fantastical and macabre,” which matches the tone of Compulsion’s previous work in We Happy Few. This bodes well for South of Midnight’s future, and here’s everything we know about it so far.

What platforms will South of Midnight be on?

South of Midnight will be available on both Xbox Series X/S and PC. Both of these platforms will also be able to play it through Xbox Game Pass, where it will be available on day one.

Unfortunately, PlayStation owners are out of luck, with this being an Xbox exclusive backed and published by Microsoft. While it’s possible South of Midnight will be ported in the future, this may not happen for some time.

South of Midnight trailers

The first trailer for the game dropped in June 2023 at the Xbox Showcase. It uses stop-motion animation to introduce us to some of the characters and the game’s general macabre vibe.

An additional trailer was released a year later during the June 2024 Xbox Showcase, which showed off the general mechanics of the game as well as some of the monsters Hazel will be fighting to turn things in her world around.

Compulsion revealed a longer look at the project during Xbox Developer Direct 2025. The deep dive unveiled more gameplay footage, complete with a better glimpse at Hazel’s powers, the southern setting, and the Southern Gothic-inspired enemies.

The Developer Direct also included a brand-new story trailer:

Does South of Midnight have a release date?

The release date for South of Midnight is April 8, 2025, with preorders already live for PC via Steam and Xbox Series platforms.

South of Midnight gameplay – What can you expect?

Xbox

South of Midnight is described as an action-adventure game that challenges players to confront “mysterious creatures of the Deep South” while also “learning to weave an ancient power to surmount obstacles and unravel your family’s hidden past.”

In South of Midnight, we play Hazel, a young woman introduced in the reveal trailer during a conversation with Shakin’ Bones. While her background remains largely unknown, we know that she is a Weaver who fights using a set of silver blades.

She’ll notably have access to several upgradeable spells like Push, Pull, and Weave, which interact with each enemy type in unique ways.

The developers have also revealed that the creatures in South of Midnight are inspired by real-life folklore, and players will be able to use powerful magic for both combat and traversal. All of this will be powered by Unreal Engine 5, so you can expect some breathtaking visuals too.

What is South of Midnight’s setting?

The game is set in a fantastical version of the Southern United States, where magic exists and a supernatural Southern Gothic atmosphere permeates the game. Compulsion Games aims to stay true to the South’s unique identity and culture, blending fantasy with magical realism.

That’s everything we know about South of Midnight so far. To learn more about what Xbox has planned for 2025, check out our hubs on Doom: The Dark Ages and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.