Co-creator of the latest XCOM has closed his studio without releasing a single game
We built a studio, we made a game, and I'm really proud of both. Before we close the doors at Midsummer Studios I'd like to share a glimpse of Burbank, the game we poured our hearts into.
It's like "Life Sims + The Truman Show," but it's more than that. I believe people are…
— Jake Solomon (@SolomonJake)
Veteran Firaxis Games developer Jake Solomon announced the sudden closure of his new studio, Midsummer. A brief message appeared in the developer's personal microblog alongside a demonstration of the pre-alpha version of the already canceled title called Burbank.
We founded a studio, created a game, and I am very proud of both. Before we close the doors of Midsummer Studios, I wanted to show you some footage from Burbank — the game into which we poured our hearts and souls.
It's a kind of blend of a life simulator and The Truman Show, but it's also something more. I believe people are natural storytellers, and I want them to share any stories and characters they can imagine. Burbank allows you to do just that.
There are moments in this game when characters come to life in ways we've never seen before. And for an experienced game developer like me, that's a special event.
What you're seeing now is a pre-alpha version. But this game was my dream, and our team was bringing it to life. So, watch and dream with us.
Jake Solomon
Solomon worked at Firaxis for over 20 years and is remembered by gamers as one of the key creators of the modern installments of the XCOM series. He left the company in 2023 following the financial failure of Marvel’s Midnight Suns. In 2024, Solomon opened Midsummer Studios in partnership with other former Firaxis employees. Their first project was precisely Burbank — a life simulator akin to The Sims, whose distinctive feature was advanced generation of diverse characters in the spirit of Dwarf Fortress.
Solomon did not name the reasons for the studio's closure. It's likely all due to financial difficulties.