Compulsion Games has rolled out Patch 1.2.0 for South of Midnight, their critically acclaimed southern gothic action-adventure title. This significant update primarily targets boss fight bugs, cutscene performance issues, and various technical improvements across the game.

As the first release from Compulsion Games under Xbox Game Studios since Microsoft's 2018 acquisition, South of Midnight represents a dramatic departure from the studio's previous works. Set in the American South with rich folklore influences, the game has captivated players with its distinctive stop-motion-inspired animation style and atmospheric storytelling, earning a solid 77 on Metacritic.

The update specifically addresses two notorious boss encounters: Two-Toed Tom in Chapter 5 and Huggin' Molly in Chapter 9. Players reported frustrating issues where Two-Toed Tom would disappear if the protagonist fell into water, while Huggin' Molly's battle suffered from bottle-spawning problems in the final phase. Both issues have now been resolved.

Cinematic improvements form another crucial part of the patch. The developers fixed misaligned character models, including one of Huggin' Molly's eyelids and Hazel's missing facial expressions. A particularly distracting flickering issue during Chapter 6's Cherie Tree cutscene has also been eliminated.

Technical enhancements include:

• Crash fixes for the Xbox Series S version during the Chapter 11-12 transition
• Performance optimizations for both gameplay and cutscenes
• Adjusted render distances to reduce visual popping of environmental elements
• HDR color balance improvements for chapter 5

The update also introduces quality-of-life changes like additional control customization options for mouse and camera smoothing. Menu navigation has been refined, with the default back button changed from Backspace to Tab for better accessibility.

Considering this marks Compulsion Games' first foray into third-person action-adventure territory, South of Midnight launched in remarkably polished condition. The studio has demonstrated commendable responsiveness to player feedback, with this patch arriving just over a week post-launch. Players can likely anticipate additional updates as the developers continue refining the experience.

The game's unique stop-motion aesthetic, combined with its evocative southern setting and folklore-inspired narrative, creates a distinctive experience that stands out in Xbox's lineup. With these technical improvements, South of Midnight becomes an even more compelling journey through its haunting, beautifully realized world.