LogInThe studio will most likely not develop a turn-based strategy game but instead, will focus on creating a life-simulation title.
In February, Firaxis Games announced that its veteran developer, XCOM and Marvel's Midnight Suns creative director Jake Solomon, was leaving the studio after over 20 years of service.
At the time, it was unknown where the developer was going to head next. However, during a recent episode of the My Perfect Console podcast, Solomon revealed that he is planning to open his own game studio and that its focus will be something different than what the developer is known for.
According to Solomon, his new studio is currently under development and is yet to be formally announced. However, he said that the studio will be situated in Baltimore, which is the same location as Firaxis, and that he is now in the process of securing funding and registering its name.
Speaking of what kind of games the new studio will be developing, Solomon shared that it will probably not create a turn-based strategy game. Instead, he expressed a strong interest in developing a life-simulation title.
"After I made Midnight Suns I looked at, 'Ok, I’m going to make another turn-based strategy game, and am I excited about that?' And I found that I wasn’t that excited about doing another turn-based strategy game, not because the genre isn’t amazing – it’s where I’ve spent my life – but I felt like I didn’t have anything more to say in that area," he said.
Additionally, Solomon mentioned that he has no intention of straying too far from his area of expertise. According to him, despite holding the positions of art director and game director, he has remained actively involved in system design, and he plans to take charge of them in his upcoming project as well.
"I make games as a creative director but I actually end up designing a lot of the systems for the games. Even on Midnight Suns, I had some amazing designers but I ended up designing individual heroes, enemies, and their abilities…" Solomon said.
"System design is important to me, so I want to make a systems-based game. I think it won’t be a turn-based strategy… I want to make something that’s more of a life simulator or a simulation-style game. That’s the plan."
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