XCOM designer Jake Solomon announces surprise closure of his studio alongside a first look at its canceled life sim, 'the game we poured our hearts into'
PC Gamer
by Ted Litchfield February 19, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Jake Solomon, the founder of Midsummer Studios and former creative director at Firaxis, announced the sudden closure of his studio in a heartfelt Twitter post. Alongside the announcement, Solomon shared a two-minute gameplay video of *Burbank*, a life simulation game that was nearing completion but ultimately canceled. In his message, Solomon reflected on the pride he felt for both Midsummer Studios and *Burbank*, describing the game as a blend of *The Sims* and *The Truman Show*, with a focus on player-driven narratives and character creation. Despite its ambitious vision, funding challenges appear to have led to the studio's closure.
Midsummer Studios had raised $6 million in venture capital funding from partners like Korean publisher Krafton. However, despite securing additional investments as recently as November 2025, the studio faced financial difficulties that ultimately forced its doors to close. Solomon’s career at Firaxis was marked by success, including his work on *XCOM: Enemy Unknown*, which earned critical acclaim. His pivot to life simulation games with *Burbank* was seen as a bold departure from his strategy-focused roots. The game aimed to innovate by incorporating generative AI for character interactions, allowing players to create and narrate stories in a dynamic world.
The abrupt closure of Midsummer Studios came as a surprise, given its quiet public profile since its founding in 2024. Solomon’s announcement on Twitter marked the first significant update from the studio since celebrating its Nasdaq listing and receiving a "Game Changer" title from GamesBeat in December 2023. The *Burbank* trailer showcased a polished yet unfinished project, with placeholder elements like text-to-speech voices hinting at the game's pre-alpha status.
Solomon emphasized that *Burbank* would not rely on AI to replace human creativity, with all character art created by talented artists. While the use of generative AI for character interactions was innovative, it also raised questions about its feasibility for emergent narrative-driven games. Despite these challenges, *Burbank* represented a unique vision that resonated with Solomon and his team, offering players the freedom to
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Originally published on PC Gamer on 2/19/2026