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Jake Solomon Closes Midsummer Studios, Cancels AI-Assisted Life Sim ‘Burbank’

Solomon marked the shutdown by sharing pre‑alpha footage that confirmed generative‑AI character systems.

Overview

  • Solomon announced the closure on X and posted the first public look at Burbank, a narrative‑focused life sim described as “Life Sims + The Truman Show.”
  • Burbank is canceled with the studio’s shutdown, according to multiple outlets covering the announcement.
  • He said characters used AI for memory, reasoning, and speech, while stressing all art was created by human artists.
  • Journalists noted the clip was clearly pre‑alpha, with placeholder voices and rough animations visible in the work‑in‑progress build.
  • Midsummer was founded in 2024 with Will Miller and Nelsie Birch, raised a $6 million seed round including Krafton, and reportedly sought more funding, with an SEC filing showing $600,000 in November 2025; no detailed reason for the closure was disclosed.