In the pursuit of delivering positive financial reports that would undoubtedly please its stakeholders, industry giant Microsoft has often resorted to mass layoffs in the name of efficiency. Unfortunately, these decisions not only force talented developers to seek new employment but also result in the cancellation of games in development. Such is the fate of Contraband, the latest project from Just Cause developer Avalanche Studios.
Do you still remember Contraband? The title was shrouded in mystery from the very beginning. Aside from a short cinematic teaser released in 2021, Avalanche shared little to no information about the project in the years that followed. The only confirmed detail was its premise: a cooperative, open-world experience that was expected to bring a new twist to the genre and get more players excited.
While Contraband was never officially acknowledged by Microsoft beyond its initial reveal, Bloomberg has confirmed that it was among the casualties of the recent mass layoffs carried out by the company.
What Does Contraband’s Cancellation Mean for Other Microsoft Projects?
For fans of Hideo Kojima, however, there is some positive news. Schreier stated that, despite previous rumours suggesting otherwise, Kojima’s mysterious project OD is still in active development. While there is no clear information on how far along the production process is, the game, reportedly making use of Microsoft’s Azure server infrastructure, remains on track.
As for Avalanche Studios, the developer has yet to announce any new projects in the wake of Contraband’s cancellation. It remains to be seen what direction the studio will take next after losing what was once positioned as a major co-op open-world title under the Xbox Game Studios banner.
This development underscores the ongoing volatility in the gaming industry, where even high-profile collaborations and anticipated projects are not immune to abrupt endings in the face of corporate restructuring.
