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Former Firaxis Games creative director Jake Solomon has announced the closure of his studio, Midsummer Studios, and shared a first look at its now-canceled life sim, Burbank.

The news confirms that the “next-gen” life simulation project the team had been building since 2024 will not see release. Instead, Solomon published pre-alpha footage as a farewell, describing Burbank as “the game we poured our hearts into.”

Midsummer Studios Confirms Closure

Solomon broke the news via social media, stating, “We built a studio, we made a game, and I’m really proud of both.” He shared a short gameplay video of Burbank before confirming the studio would close its doors.

Midsummer Studios was founded in May 2024 by Solomon alongside former Firaxis lead designer Will Miller and operations veteran Nelsie Birch. At launch, the team said it aimed to create a “next-generation entry to the life sim genre.”

Just 21 months later, that ambition has come to an abrupt end.

While the exact reason for the closure has not been formally detailed, reports indicate the studio had been pursuing additional funding as recently as late 2025. An SEC filing showed it secured US$600,000 in new investment during that period, on top of an earlier US$6 million funding round.

That initial round was led by Transcend Fund, with participation from Tirta Ventures, Betaworks Ventures, 1 Up Ventures, F4 Fund, Korean publisher Krafton, and Day Zero Productions.

What Burbank Was Trying To Be

Burbank was positioned as a life sim built around player-driven storytelling. Solomon described it as “Life Sims + The Truman Show,” referencing The Truman Show as an inspiration point.

In the footage released, players could create characters with detailed backstories, drop them into staged environments styled like television sets, and guide dramatic interactions. One example showed players unlocking The Office-style talking head interviews and prompting characters with specific questions.

Over time, characters would level up, new interactions would unlock, and additional locations would become available, suggesting a progression structure layered on top of emergent storytelling.

The concept drew online comparisons to Tomodachi Life and The Movies, though Burbank appeared to aim for more direct player control and narrative shaping rather than pure randomness.

Earlier interviews indicated Solomon wanted something more guided than traditional sandbox life sims, offering tools that let players actively craft scenes instead of simply observing chaos unfold.

The Role Of AI In Burbank

One immediate talking point from the trailer was the use of generative AI.

Solomon clarified in a follow-up post that Burbank’s characters used AI for memory, reasoning and speech. According to him, that system allowed players to “create anyone you want and drop them in any story you write.”

He was also quick to address concerns about job displacement, stating that all visual art in the game was created by human artists and that the team had no interest in replacing developers with AI.

Even so, generative AI voice systems remain controversial in the wider industry, particularly among voice actors. Whether Burbank could have fully delivered on its emergent storytelling goals without AI-driven dialogue is now a hypothetical discussion, as development has officially ended.

Solomon’s Career And What Comes Next

Solomon spent 23 years at Firaxis, beginning as a programmer on Civilization titles before leading the modern XCOM 2 reboot era. He also served as creative director on Marvel’s Midnight Suns, which earned strong critical praise but underperformed commercially.

After departing Firaxis, Midsummer Studios represented a clear pivot away from turn-based tactics into life simulation. In past interviews, Solomon had spoken about his belief that “people are storytellers,” and that Burbank was built to support that idea.

There had been little public indication of trouble prior to the closure. Midsummer’s social channels were largely quiet, and recent posts highlighted milestones such as Nasdaq listings and industry recognition.

As of now, Solomon has not detailed his next move. Media outlets have reached out for further comment, but no additional statements have been made.

For fans of his previous work, the abrupt end of Midsummer Studios is a reminder of how volatile game development can be, even for veteran creators with funding and backing in place.

Whether Solomon returns to strategy games or continues chasing experimental narrative systems remains to be seen.