2K announced major shifts in the management of Firaxis Games, the studio known for Civilization, XCOM, and most recently Marvel’s Midnight Suns. First of all, Jake Solomon, creative director of the XCOM franchise and Midnight Suns, will be departing the company. Solomon said in a statement:
I’m embarking on a new chapter; however, I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to fulfill my dreams at Firaxis Games. I’m thankful to everyone who enjoyed XCOM and Marvel’s Midnight Suns and to my development and publishing partners who helped bring those games to life.
David Ismailer, President of 2K, added:
Jake revolutionized tactical turn-based games and continually raised the bar for storytelling in the strategy genre. We have deep appreciation for his work and can’t wait to see what he does next.
Marvel’s Midnight Suns didn’t sell well despite critical acclaim, which could have played a factor. Solomon isn’t the only one departing Firaxis, anyway, as Heather Hazen (former COO) will replace ex Studio Head Steve Martin. 2K’s Ismailer said:
We are excited to welcome Heather Hazen as the new Studio Head of Firaxis Games, and believe she will continue to drive the success Firaxis has consistently delivered as part of 2K’s independent studio model. 2K and Firaxis Games are deeply grateful for the foundation that Steve Martin set during his time at the studio, shepherding more than 30 game launches across three genre-defining franchises and for ensuring a smooth transition for Heather into her new role. Firaxis is one of our company and industry’s most renowned studios, and we are confident that the team will continue to do great things under her leadership.
Hazen added:
I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to carry on the studio’s storied legacy, beginning with the announcement that Firaxis is in development on the next iteration of the legendary Civilization franchise. I’m lucky to be working with some of the best developers in our industry, and we have plans to take the Civilization franchise to exciting new heights for our millions of players around the world. In addition, we will continue to support Marvel’s Midnight Suns with post-launch content, and explore new creative projects for our teams.
Not all Firaxis teams have been affected. Ed Beach is still the Creative Director of the next Civilization game, which is currently in development. No further information on the project has been shared at this time.
