David Sears, Creative Director of South of Midnight, recently reflected on the game's development costs and financial sustainability. He stated that if it were up to him to decide whether to fund the project, the answer would "probably" be no.
Sears emphasized that he genuinely wanted to make South of Midnight, appreciated the entire development process, and was grateful for Microsoft's funding. However, in hindsight, the project's financial demands seemed unsustainable, making the shocking outcome less surprising. This statement addresses commercial investment rather than questioning the game's quality.
He also joked that if he had to choose between cutting funding for another project or South of Midnight, he wouldn't be entirely selfless and might still prioritize protecting the work in progress.
After its release, South of Midnight received critical acclaim and won several awards, but its performance did not eliminate the risks Compulsion Games faced within the Microsoft ecosystem. The studio was once at risk of closure before becoming independent in August. Sears has since left the company and is now serving as Creative Director at Orphan Toyz LLC, a game development support studio.