*South of Midnight is an upcoming action-adventure game set in the American Deep South with a Black woman lead named Hazel.
Video game developer Compulsion Games revealed the game at the Xbox Showcase on June 11. The YouTube trailer for South of Midnight describes it as a “fantastical and macabre third-person action-adventure set in the American Deep South.” The courageous protagonist Hazel is a Weaver — which is a “magical mender of broken bonds and spirits,” according to the developer, 21Ninety.com reports.
Per the outlet, Hazel is described as being “outwardly confident, wisecracking, and actively on the hunt.”
As gaming.net reports, players will play the role of Hazel as she “embarks on a journey through a macabre and fantastical realm,” the outlet writes, noting that South of Midnight is “filled with mythical creatures and haunting mysteries.” In this game, players will discover the ancient power of weaving.
South of Midnight ????
I know the team at Compulsion Games is cooking something really special here. pic.twitter.com/iQ8wTLpnUL
— Klobrille (@klobrille) June 22, 2023
Speaking to Xbox about South of Midnight, narrative producer and creative specialist James Lewis (a Black man), and creative director David Sears opened up about developing Hazel’s story.
“I think part of the trouble of having limited representation is that it can put a lot of pressure on any one character to represent every aspect of a culture,” Lewis said. “To tell the story of a Black woman in this setting creates another level of complexity that the team had to meet with curiosity and empathy.”
According to Lewis, Hazel offers a chance to normalize Black women in video games.
“At the end of the day, we want Hazel’s story to shine through. Hazel’s job is not to fix racism or the South’s troubled history,” Lewis said.“Making her an authentic person that people like my wife, my daughter, my mother – who all look like Hazel – will hopefully recognize and relate to.”
South of Midnight’s release date has not yet been announced, but it is expected to launch on multiple platforms including Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC (with availability on PC Game Pass), and Steam, per gaming.net.
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