Just Cause Dev Shutters UK Studio In Aftermath of Xbox’s Contraband Cancellation

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Partnership With Xbox Ended Last Month And Led To Layoffs And Studio Closure!

Story Highlight
  • Avalanche Studios, the team behind Just Cause, recently faced a major cancellation with Contraband.
  • The studio’s Liverpool office has been closed following the end of Xbox and Avalanche Studios’ partnership.
  • The team also confirms that offices in Malmo and Stockholm will face layoffs in the wake of recent events.

Avalanche Studios was working on a major Xbox project over the last few years. Unfortunately, Contraband, alongside the likes of Perfect Dark, was recently cancelled by Xbox.

Avalanche Studios faces a difficult situation following this cancellation. Today, the team has confirmed the closure of one major office and various layoffs.

Why it matters: Big studios continue to battle layoffs one after another. Avalanche Studios’ case once again highlights the dire state of the AAA gaming industry at the moment.

 

According to Avalanche Studios, Contraband’s cancellation has forced the team to completely close down its office in Liverpool.

Moreover, studios in Malmo and Stockholm will suffer from layoffs due to this cancellation. Although the exact number of employees impacted remains a mystery, Avalance Studios is set to go through a major restructuring soon.

The team has still promised to support all those impacted by this decision. Moreover, it remains committed to providing excellent games in the future as it continues to navigate this challenging time.

We are proposing to close our Liverpool studio. This will impact all Avalanchers in Liverpool. The changes will also impact other studios.

Just Cause 3
A New Just Cause Game Might Not Be Coming Anytime Soon

The team is best known for its work on games like Just Cause, Rage 2, and theHunter: Call of the Wild. Recent reports already suggested that Just Cause 5 had been scrapped, so the latest news continues this trend for Avalanche Studios.

As unfortunate as this news is, it’s hard to blame Xbox for this particular cancellation. Unlike Perfect Dark, Contraband had next to no substantial showings since its initial reveal. The game was likely going nowhere, resulting in Xbox’s decision to abandon development altogether.

What do you think about the current state of Avalanche Studios? Let’s discuss in the comments and on the Tech4Gamers Forums.

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