Microsoft Halts Development of Avalanche Studio’s Open-World Co-Op Game Contraband

Microsoft Halts Development of Contraband: What’s Next for Avalanche Studios?

Recent reports indicate that Microsoft has paused the development of “Contraband, ”a cooperative open-world game from Avalanche Studios that was first announced in 2021. As detailed in an article by Stephen Totilo on Game File, the decision comes on the heels of significant layoffs affecting over 9, 000 employees across the company, with the Xbox publishing division facing particularly harsh cuts.

Since its announcement, “Contraband”has remained relatively quiet, with little official communication from developers regarding its progress. Speculation surrounding the game intensified as it reportedly faced development challenges and delays, initially expected to release sometime between 2023 and 2024.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5qlGpqHggw

Contraband – Official Reveal Trailer 4K | E3 2021 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5qlGpqHggw)

As Microsoft began its recent round of layoffs, many ZeniMax employees described the cuts as “inhumane”and “disgusting.”Totilo also noted that the game’s announcement trailer has since been set to ‘Private’ on Xbox’s official YouTube channel, raising concerns that “Contraband”might be scrapped alongside other high-profile projects like “Perfect Dark”and “Everwild.”

Although Totilo’s report stops short of declaring “Contraband”officially canceled, the historical context of Xbox’s recent decisions—such as abandoning established franchises—suggests that hope for this title may be waning. The cancelation of other projects, including Rare’s “Everwild”and a new MMO from ZeniMax Online, indicates a troubling trend that does not favor externally developed titles like “Contraband.”

There remains a slim possibility that Avalanche Studios could acquire the publishing rights from Xbox, allowing them to complete the game independently, but such scenarios are unusual for projects of this scale.

When “Contraband”was initially revealed, Avalanche Studios’ CEO expressed optimism, stating that collaborating with Xbox was a logical choice due to the ambitious nature of the project, affirming,

“It made a lot of sense to work with Xbox on this because of the grandness of the Contraband project. It’s not a concept we would pitch to every publisher.”

As it stands, Totilo reports that no further layoffs are anticipated within the Xbox publishing division. The community hopes that Avalanche Studios can navigate this development pause without further team disruptions. Stay tuned for updates as new information about “Contraband”emerges.

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