Veteran game designer Jake Solomon has announced the shock closure of his studio and the apparent cancellation of its "next-gen" life simulation game, while publishing a glimpse at how it worked.
Solomon is famed for his work on the XCOM franchise at Firaxis, though began his career as a programmer on Civilization 3. Solomon was also creative director of the beloved Marvel's Midnight Suns, though departed Firaxis following its poor commercial performance.
In May 2024, Solomon announced Midsummer Studios, a fresh outfit founded by himself and other former Firaxis talent, with a goal to make a "next-generation entry to the life sim genre." But now, just 21 months later, Midsummer is closing, and its life sim project appears to have been scrapped mid-development.
We built a studio, we made a game, and I'm really proud of both. Before we close the doors at Midsummer Studios I'd like to share a glimpse of Burbank, the game we poured our hearts into.
It's like "Life Sims + The Truman Show," but it's more than that. I believe people are… pic.twitter.com/RuYvDhdEZO
"We built a studio, we made a game, and I'm really proud of both," Solomon wrote in a post on social media. "Before we close the doors at Midsummer Studios I'd like to share a glimpse of Burbank, the game we poured our hearts into.
"It's like 'Life Sims + The Truman Show,' but it's more than that. I believe people are storytellers, and I want them to share whatever stories and characters they can dream up. Burbank let's you do that."
The trailer, above, shows players being able to create characters with detailed backstories, then place them in TV show-like scenes where they can direct interactions and watch as stories develop. Over time, the digital actors playing these characters can level up, new types of interaction can be unlocked, and more locations for the story to develop in can be unlocked.
One moment sees the player unlocking the ability to place their characters in The Office-style talking heads interviews, then prompt them with a specific question.
"We have moments playing this game where characters come alive in a way we've never experienced," Solomon continued. "And for an old game developer like me that's special. What you're about to see is definitely pre-alpha. But this game was a dream of mine, our team made it come true, so watch and dream with us."
In a follow-up post, Solomon clarified that yes, as the trailer certainly appears to suggest, AI is heavily used within the game, including for characters' voices.
"Our characters use AI for memory, reasoning and speech," Solomon added. "That's what let's you create anyone you want and drop them in any story you write. But all of our art is created by our talented artists. We had no interest in replacing *any* developers with AI."
Elements of the concept appear somewhat similar to Nintendo's Tomodachi Life series (although that uses gibberish rather than actual voices, and is meant to feel more random, rather than allowing for the detailed prompting of scenarios). Several responses to Solomon's post also likened the idea to that of Lionhead Studios' classic The Movies.
As yet, it's unclear what Solomon's next plans are. IGN has contacted Midsummer Studios for more.
Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
Harry Potter movie star Daniel Radcliffe has revealed he was once pitched a bizarre Wizard of Oz adaptation that also featured his fellow Hogwarts co-stars Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.
Describing it as "one of the worst ideas I've ever heard," the plan had apparently been for the Harry Potter trio to reunite in a fresh version of the classic story, for which Emma Watson would have played Kansas girl Dorothy.
Speaking via the Hot Ones show, Radcliffe said the offer came in while the trio were still making the Harry Potter movies, when he was aged either 14 or 15. Even then, though, Radcliffe said he was instantly aware that this was "a bad idea."
"One of the worst ideas I've ever heard, during Potter, somebody came to us and I think asked... like they wanted to cast all three of us, me, Emma and Rupert, in a remake of Wizard of Oz," Radcliffe revealed. "Emma was Dorothy, I can't remember what Rupert was, and I just remember that I was going to be the lion, but also he knew karate?
"I was like a karate kicking cowardly lion," he continued. "And I remember I was like 14 or 15, and I was like, 'I don't know a lot about the world, but this is a bad idea, this should not be made."
For context, the timeline here would place Radcliffe and his co-stars as filming the fourth Harry Potter book, Goblet of Fire. So, had the Wizard of Oz remake progressed, the trio would still have been fairly young — though not too dissimilar to the age of 16-year-old Judy Garland in the story's classic 1939 adaptation.
Numerous Wizard of Oz adaptations have surfaced over the years, including various spin-offs, prequels and sequels. These include the 2013 Sam Raimi-directed Oz the Great and Powerful, which starred James Franco, Michelle Williams and Mila Kunis, and of course the two-part Wicked, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.
Modder ‘detra’ has released a must-have mod for Fallout: New Vegas. This mod optimizes around 240 interior cells with room markers and occlusion planes to improve the game’s performance. Most of the cells the modder has covered didn’t have any optimization at all. Moreover, many that were already optimized could be optimized even further. Plus, … Continue reading Fallout: New Vegas Mod Optimizes Interiors for Better Performance→
Ubisoft has said its long-awaited Splinter Cell remake remains in development despite layoffs at the studio working on the project.
40 jobs will be lost at Ubisoft Toronto, the company has now announced, as part of the ongoing push to cut costs that has seen thousands of employees depart over the past few years. In a statement sent to IGN, Ubisoft said that work on Splinter Cell was unaffected by the redundancies.
The company announced plans to remake the original Splinter Cell using The Division's snazzy Snowdrop engine back in December 2021, though little has been heard of it since.
"Following the recent announcement of the final phase of Ubisoft's global cost-savings plan and the discontinuation of projects, Ubisoft Toronto will be reducing its workforce by 40 roles," a Ubisoft spokesperson said.
"This decision was not taken lightly and does not in any way reflect the talent, dedication, or contributions of the individuals affected. Our priority now is to support them through this transition with comprehensive severance packages and robust career placement assistance.
"The Toronto studio continues development on the Splinter Cell game and serves as a co-development partner on Rainbow Six, along with supporting additional co-development projects."
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, which originally launched for the Game Boy Advance back in 2004, will arrive on Nintendo Switch next week to celebrate the Pokémon series' 30th anniversary.
The games will become available on Switch shortly after this year's Pokémon Presents broadcast — The Pokémon Company's annual announcement showcase held on February 27 each year — that is expected to be a very important one indeed.
Today, The Pokémon Company also now firmed up the timing of the Pokémon Presents stream, which will be held at 6am Pacific / 9am Eastern / 2pm UK.
════════════ Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen confirmed for Nintendo Switch! ═══════════ These download-exclusive titles will be available after the #PokemonDay Presents presentation which begins Friday, February 27, 2026, at 6AM PST. #PokemonFRLGpic.twitter.com/m8xEFOOjle
Unlike other retro games available as part of the Nintendo Switch Online subscription, FireRed and LeafGreen will be standalone releases — sold via the eShop for $19.99 each. Local wireless play for battling and trading will be possible, though online features are not supported.
Still, the game is expected to enable players to connect and transfer Pokémon into Pokémon Home, the franchise's cloud-based monster storage service.
As for next week's Pokémon Presents broadcast, fans are anticipating that the franchise's 30th anniversary will be marked by some big announcements. We'll hear more about promising upcoming life sim spin-off Pokémon Pokopia of course, but fans will be waiting to see if the series' long-awaited 10th generation of games and creatures also gets a showing.
Warning: This review contains full spoilers for The Pitt Season 2, Episode 7!
The overall quality of The Pitt Season 2 may be slightly less consistent than it was in Season 1, but at its best, the series is still every bit as good as before. That much is clear from these last few episodes. Episode 5 was the best chapter up to that point, while Episode 6 stumbled a bit from some frustrating character moments and an emphasis on relatively less interesting medical cases. But now the series bounces back again in Episode 7, as things really start to heat up in the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center. Literally.
If last week’s crop of medical cases proved slightly underwhelming, that’s not at all a problem here. Thankfully, we’ve already moved on from that inexplicably mundane motorcycle accident. Instead, the show pivots to a handful of new cases and provides newfound momentum with several ongoing subplots. The season is nearing the midway point now, and the tone is definitely shifting in a darker and more frantic direction.
Perhaps most notably, we see Dana (Katherine LaNasa) and Emma (Laëtitia Hollard) take charge of a sexual assault case. These scenes are hard to watch, and they do a great job of conveying the dehumanizing ordeal involved in being poked, prodded, and tested in the aftermath of a terrible trauma. LaNasa really shines throughout, radiating warmth, compassion, and experience. But as things start to go off the rails at the end, we see the terrible toll this work takes on her. LaNasa really is one of the show’s MVPs.
Elsewhere in the ER, we got the surprise return of Shawn Hatosy’s Dr. Jack Abbot, who, it seems, doesn’t get enough thrills in his night job. More Jack is always a good thing for the series. The fight to save the life of the injured SWAT member adds a welcome sense of urgency to the episode. And in the aftermath, we get to savor several memorable scenes between Hatosy and other cast members. The moment of bonding between Jack and Samira (Supriya Ganesh) is especially enjoyable (if a bit heartbreaking, given the sad turn in the case of her diabetic patient).
And if the series has been a little slow to advance the plight of Dr. Langdon (Frank Ball), that finally changes here as Langdon and Robby (Noah Wyle) finally have their big confrontation. It’s very brief, sure, but Robby clearly says everything that he feels needs to be said. That brief exchange leaves Langdon crushed and at loose ends. Once again, it’s impressive just how differently Ball is playing his character in Season 2. The swagger is gone, replaced by a weary man trying and failing to make amends for his misdeeds. I can’t wait to see where Langdon’s story arc progresses in the back half of the season.
This is all pretty heavy material, but the show doesn’t entirely lose sight of the humor that characterized earlier episodes. The focus on Javadi’s (Shabana Azeez) family strife continues to amuse. The poor kid never stood a chance with parents like these. And the show continues to make a meal out of Santos (Isa Briones) and her futile quest to get her charts in order. It even turns out that she has a pretty decent singing voice. Though it should be noted, we also get some newfound insight into her personal struggles and learn that she has a habit of self-harm. Santos has become one of the show’s most well-rounded and compelling characters in Season 2.
Finally, Episode 7 wraps up with the big reveal about what’s been going on with the mysterious Code Black. It seems multiple hospitals are being targeted with ransomware attacks, forcing The Pitt to not only accept even more patients, but to go offline in the process. If the tension wasn’t already soaring along with the heat, that’ll certainly do it. The season’s slow start is making way for a very interesting and high-stakes struggle to survive the holiday onslaught.
The League of Legends trading card game Riftbound's second set, titled Spiritforged, was released in the US on February 13. The newest expansion has been out in China for a couple of months now, and in the west for just over a week, sowe've seen a general picture of how the new cards are impacting the metagame thanks to two recent Regional Qualifiers in Fuzhou and Chengdu. With that being said, these are some of the best Spiritforged cards I think you should look into picking up now that the set is finally available.
10. Blood Money
At uncommon, this card is relatively easy to pick up at an affordable price as a single. This is a super cheap and efficient early removal spell to help you stay on tempo, and you'd be hard pressed to see Yellow decks like Viktor, Herald of the Arcane not running three copies.
9. Card Sharp
Card Sharp is pretty versatile. There are a few Power hungry decks with Spiritforged, so being able to offset some of that cost with the Gold generated from Card Sharp and pressure with a 3 MIght body is worth considering.
8. Not So Fast
Thanks to the recent errata to refexive triggers, nerfing cards like Icathian Rain, Not So Fast got significantly better. Before, you'd only be able to counter just one instance of damage, but now you can just counter the entire spell with Not So Fast. Definitely keep this card on your radar if you like Green decks.
7. Bellows Breath
The new Repeat mechanic offers a more dynamic way to interact with opponents. Bellows Breath is one of these, being able to clear a Battlefield of smaller units in the early game.
6. Trinity Force
One of my favorite new equipments from the set, Trinity Force is one of the few cards that allow you to store extra points. I can see this making waves in Master Yi, Wuju Bladesman, as his Legend ability buffs defending units. In the Origins meta, the deck was great at holding to score points, and looks to be the same situation with Spiritforged.
5. Piercing Light
Like Bellows Breath, this can be an early game removal spell for tempo, or an easy two-for-one later on. Kai'Sa, Daughter of the Void typically ran two to three copies of Falling Star, so I can see this finding a home in that deck too.
4. Ferrous Forerunner
Ferrous Forerunner is a big body that continues to pressure your opponent even after it dies. Doing its best Wurmcoil Engine impression, this guy will spit out two 3 Might Mech tokens upon death, allowing you to maintain your board presence.
3. Called Shot
Even if Called Shot had 1 Energy cost, I would consider extremely powerful. At 0 Energy and sporting the Repeat mechanic has convinced me it's the best draw and filter spell in the game. With a ton of ways to generate Gold tokens to help pay Power costs, this card is positioned to be seen in every Purple deck.
2. Guardian Angel
Guardian Angel is essentially copies four through 6 of Zhonya's Hourlgass, which has the same effect. This, however, is an equipment, so it comes with a +1 Might buff and costs a Power to equip to a unit. Master Yi, Wuju Bladesman is still poised to be a contender with Spiritforged, and this card is one reason for that.
1. Ezreal, Prodigy
While Draven, Glorious Executioner is easily the strongest deck in the Spiritforged meta, many lists are playing Ezreal, Prodigy, which is the best card in the set for my money.
Purple is undoubtedly very strong, and Ezreal's effect allows you to filter through your deck and a lot cards early, and fits into a few other archetypes nicely.
Like Origins before it, the second set is already sold out on Riot's online storefront, but you can order through TCGplayer at pretty high markups if you're desperate to secure the goods.
Thank your own personal deity--possibly Athena of God of War: Sons of Sparta fame--it's Friday. Some sales are noisy. This one is curated. These are games I have played, finished, stress tested, and would still recommend at these prices without hesitation. And now I'm off to play some Resi. Weekend well. See you Monday.
In retro news, I'm celebrating the 23rd birthday of Rez, Tetsuya Mizuguchi's synesthesia masterpiece. One part Panzer Dragoon on-rails shooting and another part LSD degrees of "ohhh, I can seeee the muuuusic," this Dreamcast must-own stands up today, particularly inside of a PS VR2 headset.
- Dead or Alive 5 Last Round (PS3/4,X360/O) 2015. Get
Nice Savings for Nintendo Switch
Red Dead Redemption (-48%) - A$25.00 The writing is still razor sharp and the world holds up surprisingly well on Switch. Gunplay shows its age, yet the pacing and tone remain worth every cent.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope (-40%) - A$47.80 Tactical combat without rigid grids gives this sequel real personality. The Rabbids humour can grate, but the systems underneath are smarter than they look.
Dead Cells (-50%) - A$18.70 Still one of the tightest action loops around. It is punishing but fair, and every run feels earned. At half price, it is dangerously easy to justify.
Unravel Two (-70%) - A$8.90 A gentle co-op puzzle platformer built around coordination rather than chaos. It is short and simple, yet quietly charming at this price point.
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered (-80%) - A$11.90 Loud arcade racing that knows exactly what it is. Structure is old school, but the chases still feel good and the discount softens repetition.
Assassin's Creed Mirage (-70%) - A$24 Mirage trims the RPG excess and restores rooftop stalking. Smaller scope works in its favour, especially at this price.
Sonic Frontiers (-66%) - A$33.70 Ambitious open zones give Sonic room to breathe. It is uneven, but the spectacle and soundtrack carry more weight than expected.
Hogwarts Legacy (-65%) - A$39 Hogwarts itself is absurdly detailed and worth exploring slowly. The main story drags occasionally, but the fantasy rarely falters.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 (-33%) - A$55.90 Predictable but polished, with campaign set pieces that still flex technical muscle. Multiplayer value depends entirely on your squad staying active.
Mortal Kombat 1 (-62%) - A$29 Visceral and visually absurd in motion. Live service elements divide opinion, but the core fighting remains satisfyingly sharp.
Xbox One
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy (-51%) - A$49.10 Combat repeats itself, yet the writing and cast chemistry carry the experience comfortably at this discount.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition (-70%) - A$30.30 Three sprawling RPGs and almost all DLC in one package. The first game shows its age, but the character work remains elite.
LEGO Worlds (-42%) - A$28.90 Freeform creativity with minimal structure. It lacks modern LEGO polish, though younger builders will not mind at this price.
CoD: Black Ops 7 (-64%) - A$40 Faster load times and steady performance help here. It does not reinvent anything. CoD is CoD. You know this.
Crimson Desert (-19%) - A$89 Large scale combat and open world ambition headline this one. It is not a small investment, but early scope looks substantial.
Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales (-48%) - A$48.90 Shorter than the original, tighter because of it. Swinging across New York still feels clean and confident.
Alan Wake II (-44%) - A$50.30 A bold horror sequel that trusts you to keep up. Combat can feel deliberate, but the structure and atmosphere linger.
Assassin's Creed Shadows (-55%) - A$49 Dual protagonists and feudal Japan finally align. Open world fatigue is possible, yet the setting does heavy lifting.
PS4
Trials of Mana (-44%) - A$43.20 A bright remake that keeps its classic bones. Story is simple, but the combat system retains genuine charm.
It Takes Two (-80%) - A$11.90 One of the smartest co-op designs in years. You will need a reliable partner, which is sometimes the real challenge.
Disco Elysium - The Final Cut (-75%) - A$14.90 Dialogue as combat, and still unmatched. It is dense and uncompromising, but essential at this price.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater (-53%) - A$54.90 A stealth classic rebuilt with modern presentation. Pacing is theatrical, but jungle tension still grips.
It Takes Two (-80%) - A$9.90 Runs beautifully on PC and remains a co-op benchmark. You do need someone equally committed on the other controller.
Death Stranding Director's Cut (-75%) - A$13.70 A strange, contemplative trek about connection and cargo. It commits fully to its tone, which is precisely why it works.
Metaphor: ReFantazio (-55%) - A$51.70 Persona lineage meets high fantasy politics. It is dense and stylish, though newcomers should expect a long commitment.
Spiritfarer (-85%) - A$6.50 Gentle management wrapped around grief and goodbyes. It moves slowly, but the emotional payoff is quietly powerful.
Adam Mathew is a passionate connoisseur, a lifelong game critic, and an Aussie deals wrangler who genuinely wants to hook you up with stuff that's worth playing (but also cheap). He plays practically everything, sometimes on YouTube.
Not everyone is the DIY type. If you're in the market for a prebuilt gaming PC, Dell is one of the best brands we'd recommend. Alienware desktops and laptops feature solid build quality, top-of-the-line gaming performance, excellent cooling (further improved on the newer models), aggressive styling, and pricing that is very competitive with other pre-built options. Best of all, there are plenty of sales that happen throughout the year, so it's not difficult to grab one of these computers at considerably less than their retail price.
Dell and Alienware Coupons
Alienware Area-51 Gaming PC Deals
If you're seeking the absolute best of the best in PC gaming performance, look no further. Dell unveiled the new Alienware Area-51 gaming PC at CES 2025. The product photos don't give it due justice; this is a big chassis that towers over the Aurora R16 model with superior build quality and a redesigned cooling system with even greater airflow. This is the only model that can be configured with the hot and power hungry GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card. The first wave of Area-51 systems featured Intel CPUs exclusively, with AMD X3D options only available since late November.
Alienware Aurora R16 Gaming PC Deals
The Aurora R16 is Alienware's bread and butter gaming PC. It can be equipped with an Nvidia RTX 5060 graphics card all the way up to an RTX 5080 and the prices for Cyber Monday are extremely competitive with other brands. For example, currently Alienware has the least expensive prebuilt RTX 5080 gaming PC that I've found anywhere. Most of these systems are customizable, however it's not difficult to upgrade your own RAM and storage yourself.
Alienware Aurora Gaming Laptop Deals
Alienware's newest mainstream gaming laptop is dubbed the "Alienware Aurora" and it replaces the previous generation's x16 and m16 series of laptops. It comes in two models: the 16 and 16X. The 16 is the more economical model, but gamers should definitely opt for the higher-end 16X model. If you're looking for build quality and performance on par with the previous generation m16, then the 16X is its spiritual successor. It features an anodized aluminum lid and base, a higher quality display, a more powerful CPU, and a GPU that isn't throttled for maximum gaming performance.
Alienware Area-51 Gaming Laptop Deals
Alienware 18 Area-51 (18")
Alienware 16 Area-51 (16")
The Area-51 is Alienware's new flagship gaming laptop for 2025. It features an anodized aluminum shell for both the lid and bottom chassis with a gorgeous iridescent finish. The frame is made of a durable and lightweight magnesium alloy. Cooling has been upgraded with generous amounts of copper and a new thermal interface material to better transfer heat away from your hottest components as well as more fans and bigger cutouts for greater airflow. Dell claims that the laptop can handle a higher power ceiling of up to 240W TDP without raising acoustics.
Design-wise, the Area 51 has a sleeker, more contoured shape compared to previous models, with rounded edges and soft corners replacing the traditional squared off design. The hinges are internally positioned so that they're near invisible. There's a transparent window on the undercarriage to show off the internal components. As befits an Alienware laptop, there's plenty of RGB illunimation, although most of it can be turned off if you want your laptop to be a bit more subtle.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
"These money people need numbers to know they will make their money back, which kind of conflicts with the nature of experimentation and trying to push the boundaries of the medium."
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