Compulsion Games has released Update 1.3.0 for South of Midnight, bringing several quality-of-life improvements to their critically acclaimed action-adventure title. The most charming addition is undoubtedly the new ability to pet Beaux's bloodhounds in Chapter 5, fulfilling a common player request seen across many modern games.

Since its April 2025 release, South of Midnight has stood out among Xbox's first-party lineup for its distinctive stop-motion-inspired visuals and immersive Deep South setting. The game represents a significant evolution for Compulsion Games, whose previous works included the puzzle platformer Contrast and the dystopian survival game We Happy Few.

Beyond the delightful dog interactions, Update 1.3.0 focuses heavily on accessibility enhancements. The patch addresses multiple menu narration issues, including proper readouts for color options and corrected reading orders. Technical improvements include fixes for shadow flickering during cutscenes and resolution of an input mapping conflict between jumping and ledge dropping actions.

The update also completes the experience by adding previously missing subtitles for Roux's musical performance at Kooshma's Cabaret, ensuring all players can fully appreciate this late-game narrative moment.

With the game already launching in a remarkably polished state, these updates demonstrate Compulsion's commitment to refining the player experience post-release. While Xbox remains the current platform for South of Midnight, its potential arrival on PlayStation systems remains a topic of speculation among the gaming community.

South of Midnight Update 1.3.0 Patch Notes (June 16, 2025)

Lighting Fixes

• Resolved shadow flickering issues across Low, Medium, and High settings during cinematic sequences

Control Improvements

• Corrected input mapping conflict between 'jump' and 'drop from ledge' actions

New Feature

• Implemented interactive dog-petting mechanic in Chapter 5

Accessibility Updates

• Multiple menu narration corrections and optimizations
• Added descriptive audio for accessibility color options
• Included missing subtitles for Kooshma's Cabaret musical sequence