Darlings, South of Midnight just scooped Game of the Year and Experience of the Year at this week's Games for Change Festival, proving the magic-infused action-adventure from Compulsion Games still has serious pull even after Microsoft cut the studio loose in its latest Xbox reset. The Montreal team, now independent again after one of five studios axed in the recent layoffs, accepted the hardware with heartfelt nods to resilience in tough times, echoing the game's own themes of rising up and growth. Producer Geneviève Forget highlighted the "scary but exciting" return to independence, while producer Anamaria Musca reminded everyone that games are made by people, not faceless corps, as the studio hunts for work via LinkedIn and promises runway for future titles.

This win adds to an already stacked trophy case including a Peabody, BAFTA recognition, multiple Canadian Game Awards sweeps, and The Game Awards' Games for Impact prize, all while the game prepares for PS5 and Switch 2 ports next spring. Xbox had leaned on smaller studios like Compulsion for meaningful Game Pass fare before pivoting hard to Halo and Fallout tentpoles, leaving these teams downsized but clutching their IP as they rebuild. Community buzz on X is calling it poetic justice for a story about loss and fighting back, with the dev team's speech landing like a middle finger to corporate churn.

The timing feels deliciously on-brand for an industry where critical darlings get the boot while the suits chase blockbusters, yet Compulsion's spirit is clearly carrying forward. These wins aren't just hardware—they're proof that people-powered creativity doesn't need a Big Tech leash to shine. Watch this space; the waifus and underdogs are still in the fight.