Xbox Game Studios has made another game cancellation.
Microsoft gaming arm Xbox Game Studios has reportedly made yet another game cancellation. This time around, the company has cancelled Contraband, a multiplayer video game that was in the works at Avalanche Studios, the developer behind the Just Cause franchise.
If you're scratching your head and wondering why you haven't heard of this game before, that's because both Xbox and Avalanche have been silent on its development for four whole years.
Xbox cancels Just Cause maker’s next game Contraband
Microsoft’s Xbox Game Studios arm has officially cancelled an upcoming multiplayer video game called Contraband, according to Bloomberg. The game had been in development at Avalanche Studios Group, the developer behind the Just Cause franchise, Rage 2, and more.
Avalanche published a statement on its website to confirm as much, saying that “active development has now stopped.” It wrote:
“Active development has now stopped while we evaluate the project’s future, We’re thankful for the excitement we’ve seen from the community since we announced and will give an update on what’s next as soon as we can.”
Xbox Game Studios originally announced Contraband at E3 2021, calling it a co-op multiplayer game that would bring players to a “smuggler’s paradise set in the fictional world of 1970s Bayan.” Gameplay for the title was never shown off, so its exact nature beyond this short description is unknown.
Contraband was the only known title in development at Avalanche Studios, a studio that hasn’t released a new game since 2019’s Rage 2 and 2018’s Just Cause 4. The Just Cause franchise was known for its explosive and action-packed open-world gameplay, following series protagonist Rico Rodriguez as he sets off to cause as much chaos as possible.
This is only the latest of a long string of game cancellations and layoffs at Xbox Game Studios. Just recently, the publisher cancelled a Perfect Dark reboot, an action-adventure game called Everwild, and more.
