May 14th 2024.
XCOM 2 – the highly anticipated follow-up to the popular strategy game is going to have a completely new look and feel. This is because a group of former Firaxis developers, who have previously worked on XCOM and Marvel’s Midnight Suns, have decided to take a different route and create a life simulation game as their next project.
One of the biggest challenges facing video game developers nowadays is the increasing cost of production. This means that if a game fails to meet expectations, it can have disastrous consequences for the studio, whether it is owned by a larger company or not. This was unfortunately the case for Marvel’s Midnight Suns in 2023, which resulted in 30 employees leaving the studio, including director Jake Solomon and studio head Steve Martin, who were also involved in the development of XCOM 2.
After leaving Firaxis, Solomon has now started his own company called Midsummer Studios, and their first game is going to be a life simulation game similar to The Sims. Solomon had previously expressed his desire to move away from turn-based strategy games, possibly due to their lower sales compared to other genres, despite receiving critical acclaim for his previous titles.
The Sims franchise has always been a huge success for EA, and it seems like Midsummer Studios has recruited some of the best minds from Firaxis to help develop their new game. The team includes Will Miller and Nelsie Birch, as well as executive producer Grant Rodiek, who has worked on multiple installments of The Sims.
In its first round of funding, the studio has raised $6 million from investors, which may seem like a small amount compared to the hundreds of millions needed for AAA games. However, the team is confident that they can create a unique and engaging experience for players with this budget.
Although there are currently no images or videos to give us a glimpse of the game, it has been described as "empowering players to create and share meaningful stories through play." According to Solomon, the best stories in games are those written by the players themselves. He also mentions that the game will focus on the drama of modern life, and players will be able to share their stories with the world.
Shanti Bergel, founding partner at investment firm Transcend, also believes in the potential of Midsummer Studios and their new game. As a former producer on The Sims, he understands the power of player-driven stories and is excited to support the team on their journey to redefine the life simulation genre.
While there have been a few attempts to replicate the success of The Sims over the years, the life simulation genre remains relatively small. However, with the upcoming release of Life by You by Paradox Interactive, it seems like there may be more competition in the market. But with the experienced team at Midsummer Studios, it is likely that their game will offer a unique and fresh take on the genre.
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'Midsummer Studios' first game will focus on the drama of modern life, allowing players to create and share meaningful stories through gameplay. Solomon, the studio's founder and former director of XCOM 2 and Midnight Suns, believes that player-driven stories are the best in games. This, along with the studio's experienced team and support from investors, makes Midsummer Studios a promising new addition to the gaming industry.
The life simulation genre may not be as large as others, but with the upcoming release of Life by You, competition is on the rise. However, Midsummer Studios' game promises to offer a unique and refreshing experience, different from the traditional Sims-style gameplay. We look forward to seeing what the team has in store for us.
In other news, rumors suggest that Leon will be the lead character in Resident Evil 9, and a leaked image of the Resident Evil 1 remake has surfaced. V Rising, a vampire-themed game, has received mixed reviews, while Square Enix has decided to focus on multi-platform releases rather than PlayStation 5 exclusives. And finally, Bethesda has teased a possible sequel to Doom with a new trademark before the Xbox Showcase.
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