The UK branch of Just Cause developer Avalanche Studios is to close just a few weeks after the news thatĀ Contraband, a game they were creating as an Xbox exclusive for Microsoft, is no longer in active development.
āIn light of current challenges to our business and the industry, we have thoroughly reviewed how to best ensure Avalanche Studios Groupās long-term success,ā reads a statement posted on the Avalanche Studios website.
āThis review has led us to the difficult conclusion that we must make changes to our staffing and locations. As a result, we are proposing to close our Liverpool studio, and to initiate a collective consultation process, as required by UK law. This will impact all Avalanchers in Liverpool. The changes will also impact our other studio locations in Malmƶ and Stockholm, where we will reduce our workforce and restructure the teams to address our gamesā needs.ā
āOur immediate focus is to offer full support to all Avalanchers during this challenging time. Despite these changes, we remain deeply committed to providing amazing games to our passionate player communities.ā
Avalanche Liverpool was set up in 2020 and had around 50 staff. Liverpool is the latest Avalanche studio to close, their New York and Montreal studios were shut down in June 2024 with the loss of another fifty staff.
Avalanche has not had much luck with Microsoft, having previously worked on dinosaur shooter Second Extinction. That was revealed in 2020 and did make it into early access on both PC and Xbox, but was eventually cancelled in 2023. Avalancheās website lists Contraband as the sole upcoming title, itās not been officially cancelled but the listing does still link back to a Microsoft page that no longer exists.
Hopefully, Avalanche have another unannounced big project waiting in the wings.Ā It had six projects in development in 2018 but those have either been released, such as Just Cause 4, or cancelled.
Source: AvalancheĀ
It’s always tough to hear about a studio closing, especially after recent news like this. Hopefully, the talented team members find new opportunities soon. Wishing them all the best in their future endeavors.
it’s just a temporary setback for the talented team at Avalanche. It’s interesting to consider how this might impact other projects in development, as well as the broader gaming community. Let’s hope they find new opportunities soon!
It’s true that setbacks can often lead to new opportunities for growth. The talent at Avalanche has shown resilience in the past, and it will be interesting to see how this situation might inspire their future projects or collaborations.
absolutely shown resilience in the past. It’s interesting to think about how this closure might pave the way for new projects or collaborations elsewhere in the industry. Change can sometimes spark creativity in unexpected ways!
It’s definitely a tough situation for the team. This closure could pave the way for new opportunities elsewhere, but it’s also a reminder of how quickly the gaming industry can shift. It will be interesting to see how this affects future projects from Avalanche Studios.
You’re right, it is a challenging time for everyone involved. It’s interesting to consider how the skills and experiences gained at Avalanche could lead to exciting new projects elsewhere in the industry. Change often brings unexpected opportunities!