Veteran developers from various studios, including developers from the team behind XCOM, have established a new game development studio, dubbed Midsummer Studios.
Headed up by former XCOM creative director and game director Jake Solomon and Will Miller respectively, Midsummer Studios is based out of Hunt Valley, Maryland. The duo is joined by Nelsie Birch, who is taking on the role of the studio’s chief financial officer.
Alongside Solomon, Miller, and Birch, the studio also has executive producer Grant Rodiek, who previously worked at Maxis and has a plethora of experience in shipping various games in The Sims franchise, as well as its expansion.
To kick things off, Midsummer Studios has already begun teasing its first title, which will be a life simulation game with a focus on player-driven narratives. The studio has raised $6 million from investors that include 1Up Ventures, F4 Fund, Transcend Fund, and Krafton, among others.
“The best stories in games are written by the players,” said CEO and creative director Jake Solomon in a press release announcing Midsummer Studios. “At Midsummer we’re making a life sim focused on the drama of modern life, where our players will write meaningful stories just by playing, and then share those stories with the world.”
The title doesn’t yet have a name, and the studio has not revealed any other details, including a release window or what platforms it will come to.