The 2026 Canadian Game Awards, held on Thursday night in Toronto, saw Montreal-based Compulsion Games' South of Midnight take home six prestigious awards, including the coveted Game of the Year title. The single-player adventure, set in a fictionalized American Deep South, also earned Studio of the Year for its developer.
South of Midnight Sweeps Major Categories
Released initially in April 2025 for Windows PC and Xbox Series S/X, South of Midnight was later ported to PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2. The gothic game combines action, puzzle-solving, and exploration as players control Hazel, a magical Weaver who must rescue her mother and heal her hurricane-ravaged hometown of Prospero by battling folklore monsters. At the awards, it beat out titles from larger studios like Electronic Arts and Ubisoft, winning Best Console Game, Best Art Direction, Best Audio Design, Best Score/Soundtrack, and Best Narrative.
Celebrating Canadian Game Development
The Canadian Game Awards (CGAs), created by Montreal-raised, Toronto-based journalist Carl-Edwin Michel, aim to honor Canada's vibrant video game industry. "Canadian games have a big impact not just here in Canada but the rest of the world," Michel said. "We have awards like the Junos for music and Canadian Screen Awards for film, TV, and other media, and so we should also be honouring the creators behind our massive entertainment medium." The event was hosted by famed voice actors Mark Meer and Jennifer Hale, known for their work in BioWare's Mass Effect trilogy.
Other Winners and Highlights
Additional winners included Hell Is Us by Rogue Factor, which won Best Game Design and Best Performance for Montreal-born actor Elias Toufexis. Battlefield Studios' Battlefield 6 earned Best PC Game, while Ubisoft's Rainbow Six Mobile took Best Mobile Game. The Best Indie Game award went to Wanderstop by Ivy Road, and Best VR/AR Game was awarded to Toronto indie developer Games by Stitch for Elsewhere Electric. Ubisoft Quebec's Assassin's Creed Shadows received applause for Innovation in Accessibility, presented by blind gamer and advocate Steve Saylor. Gaming pioneer Victor Lucas received the inaugural Game Changer Award for his decades-long contributions to gaming culture.
Spotify Reverts Logo After Backlash
In other news, Spotify has announced it will revert its logo to the original design after widespread criticism. To commemorate its 20th anniversary, the streaming service had changed its iconic green icon to a shimmering, 3D disco ball. Users on social media complained, calling it "ugly" and "a blurry, pixelated mess." Spotify confirmed the disco ball was a temporary "glow up" and the standard logo will return next week.
CRTC Increases CanCon Requirements for Streamers
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has announced that large video streaming services must direct 15% of their Canadian revenues toward local and Indigenous content, tripling the initial 5% requirement. The move aims to stabilize funding for Canadian content at around $2 billion per year. Platforms like Disney+, Prime Video, and Netflix may work directly with Canadian production companies to create content. The enforcement date is unknown and likely to be challenged.
Amazon Launches Alexa Podcasts in the U.S.
Amazon has introduced an Alexa Podcasts feature for its upgraded Alexa+ assistant, allowing users to generate personalized podcast-style audio on demand. Users can ask Alexa+ to create a podcast about any topic, adjust length and tone, and receive an episode with two AI-generated host voices. Amazon has partnered with over 200 licensed publishers, including Reuters, The Washington Post, and Forbes, to ensure accuracy. A Canadian release date has not been announced.
Time-Saving Windows Tip
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