Compulsion Games Regains Independence from Microsoft
After a tumultuous period under Xbox Game Studios, Compulsion Games is now an independent studio once again. The management buyout of the award-winning studio behind South of Midnight, We Happy Few, and Contrast has been completed, and Microsoft has transferred ownership of their original intellectual property games back to the studio.
This move marks a significant shift for Compulsion Games, which had faced rumors of closure following Xbox's recent layoffs. However, CEO Guillaume Provost announced that the management buyout is complete, and the studio now owns its staff, IP, and original games.
The change in ownership means that Microsoft will no longer receive a cut from game sales. While some advocates had already excepted South of Midnight due to its indie-like production scale and themes of black liberation, this development may still be welcome news for fans who have been holding out on buying the game.
The studio's independence comes at a critical time, as Compulsion Games navigates the challenges of cutting ties with a major publisher. The turmoil at Xbox had already led some devs to look for new jobs before the infamous 'reset' took place.