XCOM Creator's Dream Dies! What Happens to "Truman Show" Game Now?!

It's always a bit of a gut punch when a talented Studio shuts down. This week, the gaming world felt that pang with the announcement that Midsummer, led by the brilliant Jake Solomon, is closing its doors. Solomon, a name synonymous with modern XCOM and the surprisingly excellent Marvel's Midnight Suns, isn't leaving quietly though. He offered a tantalizing, albeit brief, look at what Midsummer was cooking up: a project called "Burbank."

XCOM Creator's Dream Dies! What Happens to "Truman...

And let me tell you, "Life Sims + The Truman Show" is a description that immediately grabs your attention. Think about that for a second. The promise of controlling (or maybe just influencing) a world where characters have their own internal drives, their own reactions beyond scripted responses… it's a fascinating concept. Solomon showed off some pre-alpha footage, and even in that early stage, the potential was clear. It wasn’t about dictating every action, but about setting the stage and then watching the drama unfold. It's like being a benevolent, or perhaps mischievous, puppet master.

One of the most interesting aspects, and something Solomon emphasized, was the team's commitment to handcrafted art. In a time when AI is seemingly poised to take over everything, that’s a reassuring stance. "Our characters use [AI] – That's what lets you create anyone you want and drop them in any story you write," Solomon explained, "But all of our art is created by our talented artists. We had no interest in replacing *any* developers with [AI]." That's a sentiment that resonates, especially when you consider the human touch that elevates games from being mere products to genuine works of art. It’s a testament to the value Midsummer placed on its people.

Solomon's track record speaks for itself. He took the XCOM franchise, a beloved but somewhat dusty tactical series, and revitalized it for a modern audience. Then, he took a swing with Marvel's Midnight Suns, a game that, on paper, sounded like a recipe for disaster: card-based combat meets superhero team-up? But it worked! It really worked. Critics, like Eurogamer’s Christian Donlan, praised its blend of tactical depth and charming superhero interactions, calling it "great tactical fun nestled in a sweet-natured superhero dollhouse." I myself spent countless hours tinkering with my team, optimizing builds, and generally geeking out over the strategy.

It's a shame we won't get to see Burbank fully realized, at least not by Midsummer. The glimpse Solomon provided leaves you wanting more. The idea of creating characters, defining their world, and then stepping back to observe their choices… it's a compelling vision. Hopefully, someone will pick up the torch and run with it. In the meantime, we can only watch that pre-alpha footage, dream of what could have been, and appreciate the legacy Jake Solomon and his team have already built.