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Compulsion Games
Canadian video game developer

Compulsion Games Inc. is a Canadian video game developer and a studio of Xbox Game Studios based in Montreal. Established in 2009 by ex-Arkane Studios developer Guillaume Provost, the studio developed the 2013 puzzle-platform game Contrast and the 2018 survival horror game We Happy Few.

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History

Compulsion Games was founded in Montreal in 2009 by Guillaume Provost, who had previously worked for Arkane Studios.1 To raise funds for their first game, the team of Compulsion Games worked on external projects, including Darksiders, Dungeon & Dragons: Daggerdale, and Arthur Christmas: Elf Run.2

In November 2013, Compulsion Games released the puzzle-platform game Contrast for Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. By January 2014, the game had sold more than one million copies.3 The Xbox One version was eventually released in June 2014.4

In February 2015, the company announced We Happy Few as its next game.5 Debuting at PAX East 2015, it received unprecedented hype, which the studio struggled to control. Receiving comparisons to BioShock, the team decided to pivot from the survival mechanics they initially envisioned to a more narrative-based game. In June, Compulsion launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund development, which ultimately exceeded its goal.6 Microsoft then showcased the game at E3 2016.7

The game launched in Early Access on PC and Xbox in July 2016.89 By the summer of 2017, Compulsion had 40 people working on the game and a publishing deal with Gearbox Publishing. We Happy Few was given an April 2018 release date.10 However, by January 2018, it was delayed so Compulsion could rework the first few hours of the game.11

At E3 2018, Microsoft announced it had acquired Compulsion Games, which would become part of Microsoft Studios (now known as Xbox Game Studios).1213 We Happy Few was finally released in August.14 Critics praised its aesthetic, art direction, and narrative, but were more mixed about the actual gameplay.15

In 2019, after finishing the DLC for We Happy Few, Compulsion began work on its next game.16 By October 2021, the studio had further doubled its staff and was working on a narrative, third-person perspective game. It would avoid some missteps from We Happy Few, such as using roguelike elements or an early access approach.17

South of Midnight was revealed at a June 2023 Xbox Showcase, a third-person action-adventure game set in a magical version of the American South.18 In January 2025, Microsoft revealed an April release date for Xbox Series X and S, PC, and Game Pass.1920

Games developed

YearTitlePlatform(s)Publisher
2013ContrastMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360Focus Entertainment
2018We Happy FewMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox OneGearbox Publishing
2025South of MidnightMicrosoft Windows, Xbox Series X/SXbox Game Studios

References

  1. Gilbert, Henry (14 August 2013). "8 rising indie developers to watch". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on 17 January 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2019. https://www.gamesradar.com/8-rising-indie-developers-watch/ ↩

  2. Pavlovic, Uros (24 May 2018). "We Happy Few Slapped With Aussie Classification Board Ban". PlayStation LifeStyle. Archived from the original on 9 February 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2019. https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2018/05/24/we-happy-few-australian-classification-board-ban-related-to-drugs/ ↩

  3. Dunning, Jason (30 January 2014). "Contrast on PS3 and PS4 Passes 1 Million Downloads". PlayStation LifeStyle. Retrieved 11 February 2025. https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2014/01/29/contrast-on-ps3-and-ps4-passes-1-million-downloads/ ↩

  4. Nelson, Major (26 June 2014). "Contrast is Now Available on Xbox One". Xbox Wire. Retrieved 11 February 2025. https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2014/06/26/contrast-is-now-available-on-xbox-one/ ↩

  5. Martin, Michael (9 February 2015). "Contrast Developer Compulsion Games Teases Its Next Game". IGN. Retrieved 11 February 2025. https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/02/09/contrast-developer-compulsion-games-teases-its-next-game ↩

  6. Matulef, Jeffrey (4 June 2015). "We Happy Few launches on Kickstarter". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 12 February 2025. https://www.eurogamer.net/we-happy-few-launches-kickstarter ↩

  7. Conditt, Jessica (17 August 2017). "How 'We Happy Few' plans to avoid the pitfalls of 'No Man's Sky'". Engadget. Retrieved 12 February 2025. https://www.engadget.com/2017-08-17-we-happy-few-fans-feedback-release-date-gearbox-compulsion-interview.html ↩

  8. "We Happy Few developer Compulsion on E3 hype, drugs and Early Access". MCV. 15 May 2019. ISSN 1469-4832. Retrieved 12 February 2025. https://mcvuk.com/business-news/media-pr/we-happy-few-developer-compulsion-on-e3-hype-drugs-and-early-access/ ↩

  9. Biery, Thomas (26 July 2016). "We Happy Few is now out on early access". Polygon. Retrieved 12 February 2025. https://www.polygon.com/2016/7/26/12285130/we-happy-few-early-access-xbox-preview-windows-pc-steam-gog-humble-store ↩

  10. Conditt, Jessica (17 August 2017). "How 'We Happy Few' plans to avoid the pitfalls of 'No Man's Sky'". Engadget. Retrieved 12 February 2025. https://www.engadget.com/2017-08-17-we-happy-few-fans-feedback-release-date-gearbox-compulsion-interview.html ↩

  11. Hall, Charlie (19 January 2018). "We Happy Few delayed once again". Polygon. Retrieved 12 February 2025. https://www.polygon.com/2018/1/19/16909936/we-happy-few-delayed-again-new-female-character ↩

  12. Grubb, Jeff (10 June 2018). "Microsoft Game Studios just added five new studios including Ninja Theory". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on 10 June 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2019. https://venturebeat.com/2018/06/10/microsoft-game-studios-just-added-five-new-studios-including-ninja-theory/ ↩

  13. Romano, Sal (10 June 2018). "Microsoft acquires Undead Labs, Playground Games, Ninja Theory, and Compulsion Games". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 9 February 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2019. https://gematsu.com/2018/06/microsoft-acquires-undead-labs-playground-games-ninja-theory-and-compulsion-games ↩

  14. Sliva, Marty (10 June 2018). "E3 2018: We Happy Few Release Date Announced". IGN. Retrieved 12 February 2025. https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/06/10/e3-2018-we-happy-few-release-date-announced ↩

  15. Taylor, Ivy (10 August 2018). "We Happy Few: Critical Consensus". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 12 February 2025. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/we-happy-few-critical-consensus ↩

  16. Van Allen, Eric Van (17 December 2019). ""We Had to Make the Chicken and the Egg at the Same Time:" A We Happy Few Postmortem". VG247. Retrieved 12 February 2025. https://www.vg247.com/we-had-to-make-the-chicken-and-the-egg-at-the-same-time-a-we-happy-few-postmortem ↩

  17. Middler, Jordan (17 October 2021). "Xbox's Compulsion Games is working on a 'third-person single player game'". Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved 17 October 2021. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/xboxs-compulsion-games-is-working-on-a-third-person-single-player-game/ ↩

  18. Stedman, Alex (11 June 2023). "South of Midnight, New Game From We Happy Few Developer, Unveiled at Xbox Showcase". IGN. Retrieved 12 February 2025. https://www.ign.com/articles/south-of-midnight-new-game-from-we-happy-few-developer-unveiled-at-xbox-showcase ↩

  19. Stedman, Alex (9 June 2024). "South of Midnight Reveals New Trailer, Showing Gameplay and Lively Animation - Xbox Showcase 2024". IGN. Retrieved 12 February 2025. https://www.ign.com/articles/south-of-midnight-reveals-new-trailer-showing-gameplay-and-lively-animation-xbox-showcase-2024 ↩

  20. Valentine, Rebekah (23 January 2025). "South of Midnight Release Date Revealed at Xbox Developer Direct". IGN. Retrieved 12 February 2025. https://www.ign.com/articles/south-of-midnight-release-date-revealed-at-xbox-developer-direct ↩