XCOM Director SHOCKS Fans! Studio CLOSES?! What Happens Next is Heartbreaking

Well, this is a bummer. Longtime fans of strategy games, especially those who loved the modern XCOM reboots, are waking up to some pretty sad news today. Jake Solomon, the visionary director behind those games, has announced that his new studio, Midsummer Studios, is closing its doors.

XCOM Director SHOCKS Fans! Studio CLOSES?! What Ha...

It’s not just the Studio Closure that’s got people talking, though. Solomon also dropped a trailer – more of a development glimpse, really – of the game they were working on: a “next-gen” life simulation. Remember back in May 2024 when the studio was announced? Everyone was excited. New life sim from the XCOM guy? Sign me up!

The concept, from what we’re seeing, looked genuinely interesting. Think *The Sims* meets narrative control. The footage showcases a system where you could essentially place characters in pre-built scenarios, like a scene ripped straight from *The Office*, and then prompt them with questions. It looked like a really innovative way to blend player agency with crafted stories. A life sim where you could build people and then interview them. I have to admit, that would be fun to play for hours.

Solomon, in his announcement, was keen to emphasize the human element in their development process, specifically addressing concerns about AI art. "Our characters use [redacted]," he explained, adding they were focused on the artistry created by developers. "That's what lets you create anyone you want and drop them in any story you write. But all of our art is created by our talented artists. We had no interest in replacing *any* developers with [redacted]." Now, it's unclear what "[redacted]" refers to, but the point is pretty clear: Midsummer was committed to traditional art creation. This is a good reminder that not everyone is running towards generative AI. Some still believe in human talent and creativity.

It’s always tough to see studios close, especially when they’re clearly passionate about what they're doing. And 21 months isn't a very long time to build a studio and ship a product, especially an ambitious one. The reasons for the closure remain unclear, but the gaming industry is a tough beast. It's a shame we won't get to see what Midsummer Studios could have truly created. Hopefully, Jake and the team find new avenues to channel their creativity soon.

Tom Phillips from IGN can be reached at tom_phillips@ign.com or found on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social. I am sure he will be trying to get the full story.