Compulsion Games is an independent studio once again

Compulsion Games has officially gone independent following Microsoft’s recent divestments. Now operating outside the Xbox umbrella for the first time since 2018, the team is beginning to seek contract work to help sustain the studio.

As spotted by PC Gamer, Compulsion took to LinkedIn to advertise collaboration opportunities, inviting partners to “leverage the talent and creativity” of the studio for upcoming projects. Compulsion was also quick to point out South of Midnight’s award wins, including a BAFTA, a Peabody and multiple Canadian Game Awards. This detail matters because the game has faced negative sentiment online due to its low commercial performance, but it was a critical success amongst those that did play it.

“We invite partners to leverage the talent and creativity of the award‑winning team behind South of Midnight, a game that was honoured with a BAFTA Award, a Peabody Award, seven Canadian Game Awards, and recognized on multiple ‘Best Games of 2025’ lists,” the studio wrote. “With deep experience in creating acclaimed original IP, we bring our artistry, technical expertise, and collaborative approach to every project.”

Compulsion’s outreach comes shortly after Microsoft’s major restructuring of Xbox earlier this year, which led to the divestment of several studios, including Compulsion Games, Ninja Theory and Double Fine, alongside job cuts across Bethesda / Zenimax.

KitGuru says: Compulsion Games is going to need a cash injection in order to create its own new IP. Like many other independent studios, that money will likely have to come via contracted work on other projects unless another publisher decides to go all-in and directly fund a new Compulsion title. 

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