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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Midsummer Studios launched in May 2024 with $6 million in announced funding and a plan for a story-driven life simulation. The studio later closed: on February 19, 2026, co-founder Jake Solomon announced its shutdown and shared pre-alpha footage of Burbank, the canceled game. The available reporting does not establish a definitive reason for the closure.
What was Midsummer Studios?
Midsummer Studios was an independent game studio founded by former Firaxis developers Jake Solomon and Will Miller, alongside Nelsie Birch, who served as COO and CFO. The studio announced its launch on May 14, 2024, saying it had raised $6 million in a round led by Transcend Fund. Tirta Ventures, Betaworks Ventures, 1 Up Ventures, F4 Fund, Krafton, and Day Zero Productions also participated. The launch announcement described the funding and founding team.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream | $59.88 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Chef Life: A Restaurant Simulator - Al Forno Edition (PS4) | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Youtubers Life 2 (XB1) | $9.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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My Universe: Pets Edition Nintendo Switch | $24.00 | Buy on Amazon |
Solomon had spent 23 years at Firaxis working on games including XCOM and Marvel’s Midnight Suns. Miller had spent 16 years there, including work on Civilization: Beyond Earth and Marvel’s Midnight Suns. Grant Rodiek, who had worked at Maxis for 18 years as a producer and director on The Sims titles and expansions, had also joined Midsummer. Contemporaneous coverage documented Rodiek’s move.
What game was the studio making?
The studio’s planned debut was a life simulation focused on modern-life drama and stories that emerged from players’ choices. Solomon called it “a small-town soap-opera generator” in a contemporaneous interview. He said the team wanted players to create meaningful stories through decisions, build a community, and eventually use Early Access. Those were launch-era plans, not features or release commitments for a finished game. The interview discussed the concept and the studio’s intentions.
#1 Best Overall
- Populate your island with Mii characters and watch them come to life
- Base your Mii characters on family and friends, or whatever you want—and customizer, including some face customization options you haven’t seen before
- Pick your Mii characters up and place them near each other to chat and hang out
- Help your Mii characters explore likes and dislikes, find relationships, and get up to all sorts of fun
- Give Mii characters clothes, food, items, and life advice as they deal with all kinds of situations
In the launch release, Solomon said, “The best stories in games are written by the players,” and described the project as a life sim where people would “write meaningful stories just by playing, and then share those stories with the world.” These statements express the design ambition; they do not establish what a released game would have included.
What happened to Midsummer Studios and Burbank?
On February 19, 2026, Solomon announced that Midsummer Studios would close. He shared a two-minute glimpse of Burbank, described in coverage as the studio’s canceled life sim. Solomon characterized the game as “Life Sims + The Truman Show” and cautioned viewers, “What you’re about to see is definitely pre-alpha.” The footage therefore shows an unfinished project, not a representative preview of a completed game. PC Gamer’s report covered the closure announcement and footage.
Rank #2
- Preorder to receive an elegant outifit for your chef and three French gastronomic recipes
- Al Forno edition includes: The AL FORNO pack - Pizza, Wood-fire oven, 8 pizza recipes, Over 65 items for transforming your restaurant into an authentic Italian pizzeria
- Create and manage your dream restaurant - Menus, purchasing, décor, staff, equipment, customers, and cooking! Experience the daily life of a restaurateur and earn your awards from the MICHELIN Guide
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Solomon also wrote, “We built a studio, we made a game, and I’m really proud of both.” The game did not reach release, and Midsummer is no longer developing it.
Why did the studio close?
The available reporting establishes that the studio closed and Burbank was canceled, but it does not verify a definitive cause. The $6 million figure was the amount Midsummer said it had raised at launch in 2024; it is not evidence by itself of why the company later shut down. A more specific explanation would go beyond what the cited reporting establishes.
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Rank #3
- Become the Best Youtuber - Record, edit, and publish high-quality videos to get your first subscribers and views, and make money in no time
- Explore NewTube City - With three main neighborhoods: Downtown, City Hall, and Port, you'll have lots of places to explore, shops, cinema, gym, and even a disco; Find new trending topics in each place to create amazing content
- Create Viral Content for Your Fans - Improve your setup and identify trending topics to produce viral videos; Join forces with powerful allies, gain access to unique VIP events, unveil worldwide exclusives, and expand your social media presence
- Live Fun Adventures - Interact with the community to make new friends and develop relationships with them; Find your soulmate on your way to fame; Meet popular Youtubers and help them to receive new items, cards, and skills
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Can you play or buy the game?
No. Burbank was canceled before release, so there is no released Midsummer game to purchase or compare. The pre-alpha clip is a glimpse of work in progress, not an available game or a playable public version.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
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- Pet Clinic: Panda Edition: Expand and upgrade your practice to offer the highest standards of animal care through technology; Spend time with the animals and develop a genuine bond with them
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