Compulsion Games Regains Independence from Xbox
Compulsion Games has completed its transition to independence, regaining control of its games and licenses, according to CEO Guillaume Provost
Compulsion Games, a Canadian game development studio, has successfully regained its independence from Xbox, according to its CEO Guillaume Provost. This move comes after Xbox announced the independence of four development studios, including Compulsion Games, Double Fine, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs.
Background
The announcement was made on July 6, with Arkane Lyon being the fifth studio in negotiations with Microsoft to determine its future in accordance with French laws. Since then, Double Fine has undergone a round of layoffs, while the buyers of Ninja Theory and Undead Labs remain undisclosed. However, Compulsion Games has confirmed that it has consolidated its independence.
In an interview, Provost revealed that the studio has separated from Xbox/Microsoft, describing the agreement as a "noble gesture" from the Redmond-based company. The alternative would have been worse, with Microsoft considering closing the studio. Instead, an undisclosed amount was agreed upon, allowing Provost and the management to repurchase the studio, including its licenses, games, and entire staff.
Game Publishing
As a result of this agreement, Compulsion Games will now publish and finance its own games, independent of Xbox. The studio has already started to show its games on Steam, with South of Midnight and other titles listing Compulsion as the publisher. Although this change has not yet taken effect on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo stores, it is expected to happen soon.
The following games are now published by Compulsion Games on Steam:
Future Plans
Provost explained that the decision to regain independence was made with the team's best interests in mind. When asked if the team wanted to stay together, they responded that they would rather "eat stones and drink gasoline" than separate. The studio will now focus on publishing and financing its own games, with Provost describing the agreement as a "good deal" compared to the loss of jobs suffered by others in the industry.
The future of Compulsion Games looks promising, with the studio committed to creating high-quality games. With its independence secured, the team can now focus on developing new titles, free from the constraints of external ownership. Fans of the studio's previous games, such as We Happy Few and South of Midnight, will be eager to see what's next from this talented team of developers.
