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, provided a fascinating insight into the narrative of the action-adventure game South of Midnight in an Xbox Wire article. The game is set to release on April 8, 2025, and is set in the town of Prospero, a composite of various Southern-inspired locales, including flooded countrysides, abysmal swamps, and Appalachian mountains.

The story begins with the protagonist, Hazel, and her mother preparing for a hurricane. After a heated argument, Hazel storms out, only to witness her home being swept away by a devastating flood. Driven by the need to find her missing mother, Hazel embarks on a journey that unveils her true heritage, leading her into a mystical realm filled with creatures straight out of Southern folklore.

Lanier shared, "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, possessing magical abilities to see and manipulate the threads that connect the universe, forming the tapestry of fate.

Hazel's encounter with Catfish not only unlocks her Weaving powers but also sets her on a perilous path. She must combat Haints, corrupted creatures that spread decay, using her newfound abilities to restore them and the world around them to their natural state.

Experience Hazel’s adventure in the American Deep South starting April 3, 2025, with the Premium Edition of the game, available for $49.99 on Steam and the Xbox Store. The standard edition can be purchased for $39.99, and the game will also be available on day one via a Game Pass subscription.

Gameplay Involves Threads and Weaving

South of Midnight introduces a unique gameplay mechanic centered around threads and the art of Weaving. Hazel uses these threads to influence the world around her, unlocking spells and abilities essential for combat against the various types of Haints.

In the Xbox Developer_Direct 2025, game director Jasmin Roy detailed the combat system: "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 primary tools include a spindle, two weaving hooks, and a distaff, inspired by traditional textile crafting and spinning wheels. These tools provide a diverse range of combat moves and abilities, allowing players to cleanse the corruption from the Haints.

Weaving also plays a crucial role in exploration. Hazel uses her magical powers to manipulate threads, conjuring past incarnations of objects to aid in puzzle-solving and navigation. During the Direct, she was seen summoning a ghostly carriage and a glider to traverse the game's world.

Hazel's quest to find her mother takes her across various regions, each with its own distinct theme and environment. Art director Whitney Clayton revealed that each area is governed by a mythical creature steeped in Southern Gothic lore. One such creature, Two-Toed Tom, a colossal albino alligator adorned with weapons and overgrown vegetation, was showcased during the Direct.

To heal these corrupted creatures, Hazel must collect Echoes, fragments of haunted memories. These confrontations lead to epic battles where Hazel must subjugate and ultimately heal the creatures using her Weaving abilities.

With a rich tapestry of areas to explore and mythical beings to heal, Hazel's journey in South of Midnight promises a blend of adventure, combat, and exploration as she strives to reunite with her mother and restore balance to the world.