adminThe Midsummer Studios closure has been announced by co-founder and CEO Jake Solomon, a former XCOM designer. Before the studio shuts down, Solomon shared pre-alpha footage of Burbank, its unreleased game, and reflected on the team’s work.
Midsummer Studios closure and Burbank footage
In a social media statement, Solomon said the team had built a studio and made a game, and that he was proud of both achievements. He described Burbank as a personal creative ambition brought to life by the team and invited viewers to imagine the stories players could create with it.
The footage is from the game’s pre-alpha stage. It offers a look at a project that had not been released, but does not establish whether Burbank will be completed or become available after the studio closes. Readers should treat the clip as an early development glimpse rather than a final representation of the game.
Image credit: Midsummer Studios
How AI was used in the game
After sharing the footage, Solomon explained that Burbank’s characters used AI for memory, reasoning and speech. According to his post, these systems were intended to let players create characters and place them into stories they wrote.
Solomon also distinguished the game’s character systems from its visual production. He said the artwork was created by the studio’s artists and that the team did not intend to use AI to replace developers. This distinction is useful when assessing the project: the statement describes AI-powered character behavior, while crediting human artists for the game’s art.
Midsummer Studios’ founding and funding
Solomon co-founded Midsummer Studios in 2024 with Will Miller, a former lead designer at Firaxis, and Nelsie Birch, who has experience in financial and operations management. The studio brought together game design and business expertise to develop Burbank.
Midsummer raised $6 million in a funding round led by Transcend Fund. The round also included participation from Tirta Ventures, Betaworks Ventures, 1 Up Ventures, F4 Fund, Krafton and Day Zero Productions. The funding amount and participants provide context for the studio’s development, but the announcement does not specify the reasons for its closure or what will happen to the game’s assets.
What the announcement means for players
For people interested in Burbank, the key points are that the game remained unreleased, the footage shared was pre-alpha, and its character systems were described as using AI for memory, reasoning and speech. No release plan or future owner for the project was stated in the announcement.
The Midsummer Studios closure marks the end of the studio’s work as described by Solomon, while leaving open questions about whether Burbank or its technology could continue elsewhere. Until more information is available, the shared footage is the clearest public look at the team’s project.
