Key Takeaways
- Contraband is still in development at Avalanche Studios, confirmed by recent hiring activity.
- The project survived Xbox’s recent layoffs and cancellations, despite long-running silence.
- No official updates have been provided since its reveal in 2021, leaving fans eagerly awaiting news.
Despite widespread speculation that Contraband, the mysterious Xbox Series X|S and PC exclusive from Avalanche Studios, had been quietly canceled, new evidence reveals the game is still in active development. The update comes after recent Xbox layoffs and project cancellations stirred concern among fans.
Avalanche Studios Still Hiring for Contraband
Originally announced during the Xbox Showcase on June 13, 2021, Contraband was billed as a “co-op smuggler’s paradise set in the fictional world of 1970s Bayan.” Developed by Avalanche Studios—best known for the Just Cause series—in partnership with Xbox Game Studios, the title has remained largely under wraps for the past four years.
Now, new job listings on Avalanche Studios’ careers page indicate that the developer is still hiring for Contraband. The open roles include senior and lead positions, which suggests the project is not only active but potentially still in a relatively early stage of development. This hiring activity directly contradicts rumors that the game was shelved during Microsoft’s recent restructuring efforts.
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Xbox Layoffs Sparked Fears of Silent Cancellation
Concerns about Contraband’s fate ramped up following significant layoffs at Xbox, which included the closure of Tango Gameworks and the cancellation of multiple projects. With Contraband missing from showcases and updates for years, fans naturally began to suspect it had quietly joined the list of scrapped titles.
However, the new hiring efforts indicate that Avalanche remains committed to completing the project. Still, the prolonged silence from both Avalanche and Xbox Game Studios continues to fuel speculation about internal challenges or delays.
Xbox and Avalanche Remain Silent on Development Progress
Despite confirmation that Contraband is still underway, neither Avalanche Studios nor Xbox Game Studios have issued a public statement about the game’s current status or timeline. No trailers, gameplay footage, or developer updates have been released since the original reveal, leaving fans with little more than job listings to go on.
The lack of communication raises questions about whether the project has undergone a reboot, experienced staff turnover, or been slowed by other behind-the-scenes obstacles.
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