South of Midnight Among Top 10 Most Popular Games on Xbox During US Launch Week

South of Midnight Makes Waves in Gaming Charts

In an impressive debut, South of Midnight secured a spot among the top 10 most-played games in the United States during its launch week. This information comes from Mat Piscatella, Circana’s executive director and a recognized analyst in the video game industry.

Piscatella shared insights regarding player engagement for the week of April 12, 2025, which marked the official launch of South of Midnight. Typically, the list of popular games focuses heavily on established live service titles, making it noteworthy for this fresh single-player game to breach the top 10—an outstanding achievement for a game that is not tied to any existing franchise.

Player Engagement vs. Sales Metrics

While South of Midnight did not feature prominently on the sales charts, it launched simultaneously with an inclusion in Xbox Game Pass. This strategic move allowed player engagement to be the key metric for success. For Compulsion Games, the willingness of players to explore their new release indicates a promising start and suggests that the title resonates well with audiences.

The Competitive Landscape

The player engagement leaderboard included several juggernauts of the gaming world, such as:

Marvel Rivals
Call of Duty
Fortnite
Minecraft
Roblox
Grand Theft Auto V
EA Sports College Football 25
NBA 2K25
Rainbow Six Siege

Most of these titles are well-known live service games, often dominating such engagement metrics.Assassin’s Creed: Shadows was the only other single-player title to make the top 15, ranked just below South of Midnight at number 11.

Looking Ahead for Compulsion Games

The buzz surrounding South of Midnight raises questions about Xbox’s future strategies, especially considering the success of another game, Hi-Fi Rush. Despite its positive reception, Tango Gameworks faced setbacks following its acquisition by Xbox, leading many to hope that Compulsion Games will receive ongoing support instead of experiencing a similar downturn.

As staff and management observe the growing player base and engagement metrics, it becomes increasingly clear that nurturing these successes is vital for both Compulsion Games and Xbox’s broader gaming ecosystem.

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