"There’s always a night when Rome burns": South Of Midnight director says that Xbox funding it was "unsustainable", at least in hindsight

Compulsion Games, formerly backed by Microsoft, has parted ways with the tech giant, marking one of several significant layoffs the company undertook in recent months. Creative director David Sears, who departed from Compulsion in March 2025, has expressed his concerns about the game's funding during a recent interview. According to Sears, he always harbored fears that the project might not survive once the financial tap was eventually turned off.

In his view, successful games either generate substantial revenue or elevate the brand's prestige across generations. South of Midnight, however, seemed to lean more towards the latter category. The interviewee further elaborated on the precarious position the game found itself in, stating that it was inherently risky. He even recalled telling colleagues that the project could turn out badly if the funding was cut.

When asked if he would have cut off the funding had he been in charge, Sears replied in the affirmative, emphasizing his lack of selflessness in this matter. He concluded that, in hindsight, the situation was indeed unsustainable, leading to a "shocking" outcome. Sears also noted that modern Microsoft demonstrated a more compassionate approach towards studios, allowing them to transition independently rather than abruptly shutting them down.

As a newly independent studio, Compulsion appears to be cautious about maintaining financial viability moving forward.