Xbox is on track to have one of its best years yet with the likes of South of Midnight, Fable, and Gears of War: E-Day, among many others, coming out. Fans are naturally overjoyed to see Xbox finally hit its stride, especially when the competition from both Nintendo and PlayStation has been so fierce. One of the reasons this phenomenal year has been made possible is the vast variety of titles Xbox is releasing.

One of Xbox's most unique exclusives coming in 2025 is South of Midnight. Developed by Compulsion Games, the folks behind We Happy Few, South of Midnight is a third-person action game unlike anything else on the market. Its plethora of unique selling points makes it a draw for players both playing it via Xbox Game on day one and paying full price when it launches. However, most importantly, South of Midnight marks a much-needed change in approach when it comes to the type of games Xbox is publishing.

Xbox Needs More Stylized Games Like South Of Midnight

Their Output Has Been Very Realistic

Xbox has a track record of favoring gritty, photorealistic, and oftentimes exceptionally dark titles over stylized releases akin to what Nintendo fans often get. That's not surprising, as much of the AAA space has been dominated by these kinds of games, including by Xbox's direct competitor, PlayStation, with the likes of The Last of Us and God of War. That's not to say that neither publisher releases fantastical games, but rather, when it comes to visual style, Xbox in particular places a lot of value on high-fidelity photorealistic graphics.

Xbox does have a handful of other more stylized games releasing in 2025, including Avowed and 33 Immortals. However, 33 Immortals fits more into the indie category, and Avowed is closer to Xbox's typical visual aesthetic than South of Midnight.

This is further evidenced by Xbox's 2025 lineup, which features the likes of DOOM: The Dark Ages, Fable, and Gears of War: E-Day alongside the annual Call of Duty release, all of which sport similar realistic art direction that makes it almost look like they're from the same universe. It's understandable why Xbox is prioritizing realism over style, as it better illustrates the immense strides in graphical fidelity, as well as the capabilities of its flagship console, the Xbox Series X. Perhaps this is why it is all the more refreshing when it publishes a game like South of Midnight.

South Of Midnight Looks Incredibly Unique

It Utilizes A Unique Art Style And Animation Techniques

South of Midnight, especially in contrast with the likes of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, is an incredibly stylized game with a unique art style that is brought to life through a low-framerate animation that's frequently compared to the Spider-Verse films. The various trailers and Xbox Developer Direct deep dive have best illustrated just how gorgeous South of Midnight looks, and how much effort Compulsion Games has put into its overall art direction. Everything, from its monster designs to its environments, is both utterly unique and respectful to the inspirations it is drawing from.

South of Midnight's setting is also very unique, being based on real-life history and mythology that is rarely touched on in video games. Its combat and exploration also appear to be substantially different from what Xbox typically offers, especially thanks to its third-person perspective and more spectacle-driven action. Compulsion Games has absolutely delivered Xbox one of its most interesting and diverse games to date, making it a stand-out among an already impressive lineup of returning fan favorites and blockbuster titles.

South Of Midnight Will Help Xbox Compete With PlayStation & Nintendo

It Diversifies Its Offerings To Newcomers

Most importantly, South of Midnight finally gives Xbox a 3D AAA stylized title that can help it compete with Nintendo and PlayStation, both of which have been offering that for years. PlayStation, for example, published Concrete Genie and Dreams, and Nintendo has no shortage of stylized games. Of course, Xbox has released a number of excellent indies over the years, including the wonderful Ori and the Blind Forest, but South of Midnight represents its biggest and most ambitious stylized project to date.

It is great that Xbox is dipping its toe into more experimental waters, and hopefully, it won't end with South of Midnight. Compulsion Games has always endeavored to create unique experiences, so it is a perfect fit for Xbox's newfound love of stylized games. With the likes of Towerborne under its belt, and now South of Midnight, Xbox could finally be entering its indie game era, which will ultimately better position it to better compete with PlayStation and Nintendo.

Source: Xbox/YouTube