South of Midnight
Controversies and Performance Challenges for South of Midnight
South of Midnight: Perception vs Issues
4/10/2025
South of Midnight, an action-adventure game developed by Compulsion Games and published by Xbox Game Studios, launched on April 8, 2025, for Windows and Xbox Series X/S. The game is set in a fictional Gothic fantasy version of the American Deep South and follows Hazel, a Black female protagonist, and Weaver, who uses magical abilities to confront folklore creatures and mend broken bonds after a devastating hurricane. While the game has been praised for its unique art style and narrative, it has faced controversies regarding its development process and has struggled with low player engagement on Steam. As someone who hasn’t played the game or seen others playing it, I’ve noted that its online presence seems limited at this time. This article explores various issues, development controversies and Steam performance.
Was Hazel Originally a White Protagonist?
A persistent rumor suggests that Hazel was initially conceived as a white character and later changed to a Black protagonist. Online discussions, including posts by industry figures, claim that Microsoft may have pushed studios to hire the diversity, equity, and inclusion consulting firm Sweet Baby Inc., leading to the alteration of Hazel’s race. These claims argue that this change was part of a broader trend of adjusting character identities to align with diversity goals.
However, other sources counter that Hazel was always intended to be Black. A forum discussion references a whistleblower report stating that the original voice actress was Black, implying that no race swap occurred. Additionally, statements from the developers highlight that Black women and women of color were involved in shaping Hazel’s character from the beginning, suggesting a consistent vision for her identity. No official statement from Compulsion Games confirms or denies a race swap, leaving the discussion speculative.
Voice Acting Controversy: A Black Actress Replaced
Another point of contention involves the voice acting for Hazel. Reports from online sources claim that the original Black voice actress was fired during development for not sounding "Black enough." These accounts allege that a white dialect coach was hired to train her, and when she didn’t meet expectations, she was replaced by Adriyan Rae, who now voices Hazel, as listed in the game’s credits. The whistleblower suggests that this decision reflected tokenism and raised concerns about the studio’s approach to representation.
These claims, however, come from unverified sources and have not been publicly addressed by Compulsion Games. The original actress’s name remains undisclosed, absent from credits and discussions, which adds to the uncertainty. Without official confirmation, the story remains speculative, though it has fueled criticism of the studio’s handling of cultural authenticity in casting.
Steam Chart Performance: Low Player Engagement
Beyond development controversies, South of Midnight has faced challenges in attracting players on Steam. Data from SteamDB shows that the game reached a peak concurrent player count of just 1,411 on its release day, with numbers dropping significantly since however they should peak higher over the weekend. The game also has a modest following, with fewer than 20,000 followers on Steam, and ranks low on top-seller and wishlist charts. These figures suggest limited interest among PC gamers, potentially exacerbated by stronger performance on consoles or via Xbox Game Pass, though no data confirms this.
The low Steam numbers have sparked discussion online, with some attributing the performance to the controversies surrounding the game’s development or a lack of marketing. Others argue that the game’s niche appeal and competition from bigger releases may explain the modest turnout. As of now, I haven’t played South of Midnight myself or observed anyone else playing it. As a result, I have no opinion on the game one way or the other, but the trailers looked fun for what was shown.
Community Reactions and Broader Context
The controversies and performance issues have divided the gaming community. Some players criticize South of Midnight as overly focused on diversity, pointing to Hazel’s race and the alleged DEI influence as detracting from its appeal. These sentiments often appear in discussions labeling the game as catering to a "modern audience." Conversely, others celebrate its representation, praising the choice of a Black female lead and the game’s Southern Gothic aesthetic as refreshing additions to the genre. The game’s 92% positive player reviews on Steam, despite low player counts, indicate that those who have played it generally enjoy the experience. The involvement of Sweet Baby Inc. has been a lightning rod for criticism surrounding the game's development and reception.
Several aspects of South of Midnight's controversies and performance remain uncertain.
South of Midnight navigates a complex landscape of controversies and challenges related to performance. Unverified claims about a character's race swap and the dismissal of a voice actress have ignited discussions about representation and authenticity in the gaming industry. Additionally, the game’s low player counts on Steam suggest that it has struggled to attract a broad PC audience.
My limited perspective, as I haven't played the game or seen others engage with it, leaves me with little direct knowledge about it. I will update the article as my understanding changes.
South of Midnight, an action-adventure game developed by Compulsion Games and published by Xbox Game Studios, launched on April 8, 2025, for Windows and Xbox Series X/S. The game is set in a fictional Gothic fantasy version of the American Deep South and follows Hazel, a Black female protagonist, and Weaver, who uses magical abilities to confront folklore creatures and mend broken bonds after a devastating hurricane. While the game has been praised for its unique art style and narrative, it has faced controversies regarding its development process and has struggled with low player engagement on Steam. As someone who hasn’t played the game or seen others playing it, I’ve noted that its online presence seems limited at this time. This article explores various issues, development controversies and Steam performance.
Was Hazel Originally a White Protagonist?
A persistent rumor suggests that Hazel was initially conceived as a white character and later changed to a Black protagonist. Online discussions, including posts by industry figures, claim that Microsoft may have pushed studios to hire the diversity, equity, and inclusion consulting firm Sweet Baby Inc., leading to the alteration of Hazel’s race. These claims argue that this change was part of a broader trend of adjusting character identities to align with diversity goals.
However, other sources counter that Hazel was always intended to be Black. A forum discussion references a whistleblower report stating that the original voice actress was Black, implying that no race swap occurred. Additionally, statements from the developers highlight that Black women and women of color were involved in shaping Hazel’s character from the beginning, suggesting a consistent vision for her identity. No official statement from Compulsion Games confirms or denies a race swap, leaving the discussion speculative.
Voice Acting Controversy: A Black Actress Replaced
Another point of contention involves the voice acting for Hazel. Reports from online sources claim that the original Black voice actress was fired during development for not sounding "Black enough." These accounts allege that a white dialect coach was hired to train her, and when she didn’t meet expectations, she was replaced by Adriyan Rae, who now voices Hazel, as listed in the game’s credits. The whistleblower suggests that this decision reflected tokenism and raised concerns about the studio’s approach to representation.
These claims, however, come from unverified sources and have not been publicly addressed by Compulsion Games. The original actress’s name remains undisclosed, absent from credits and discussions, which adds to the uncertainty. Without official confirmation, the story remains speculative, though it has fueled criticism of the studio’s handling of cultural authenticity in casting.
Steam Chart Performance: Low Player Engagement
Beyond development controversies, South of Midnight has faced challenges in attracting players on Steam. Data from SteamDB shows that the game reached a peak concurrent player count of just 1,411 on its release day, with numbers dropping significantly since however they should peak higher over the weekend. The game also has a modest following, with fewer than 20,000 followers on Steam, and ranks low on top-seller and wishlist charts. These figures suggest limited interest among PC gamers, potentially exacerbated by stronger performance on consoles or via Xbox Game Pass, though no data confirms this.
The low Steam numbers have sparked discussion online, with some attributing the performance to the controversies surrounding the game’s development or a lack of marketing. Others argue that the game’s niche appeal and competition from bigger releases may explain the modest turnout. As of now, I haven’t played South of Midnight myself or observed anyone else playing it. As a result, I have no opinion on the game one way or the other, but the trailers looked fun for what was shown.
Community Reactions and Broader Context
The controversies and performance issues have divided the gaming community. Some players criticize South of Midnight as overly focused on diversity, pointing to Hazel’s race and the alleged DEI influence as detracting from its appeal. These sentiments often appear in discussions labeling the game as catering to a "modern audience." Conversely, others celebrate its representation, praising the choice of a Black female lead and the game’s Southern Gothic aesthetic as refreshing additions to the genre. The game’s 92% positive player reviews on Steam, despite low player counts, indicate that those who have played it generally enjoy the experience. The involvement of Sweet Baby Inc. has been a lightning rod for criticism surrounding the game's development and reception.
Several aspects of South of Midnight's controversies and performance remain uncertain.
- Protagonist’s Race: Evidence suggests Hazel was always intended to be black, but the race swap rumor persists without definitive proof either way.
- Voice Actress Firing: The claim that an original black actress was replaced for not sounding "black enough" comes from unverified sources, with Adriyan Rae as the confirmed voice, but lacks official corroboration.
- Original Actress’s Identity: No public record names the original actress, making it impossible to verify her involvement or the circumstances of her departure.
- Steam Performance: The game’s low concurrent player counts—peaking at 1,411 indicate challenges in attracting a PC audience however game peaks typically happen over the first weekend this will likely improve over the weekend. Reasons like console preference, Game Pass usage, or marketing gaps are speculative.
- Sweet Baby Inc: The involvement of Sweet Baby Inc. is likely the reason for poor results, as the name is seen as toxic in gamers' eyes, deserved or not.
South of Midnight navigates a complex landscape of controversies and challenges related to performance. Unverified claims about a character's race swap and the dismissal of a voice actress have ignited discussions about representation and authenticity in the gaming industry. Additionally, the game’s low player counts on Steam suggest that it has struggled to attract a broad PC audience.
My limited perspective, as I haven't played the game or seen others engage with it, leaves me with little direct knowledge about it. I will update the article as my understanding changes.
