Xbox Pauses Development of Cooperative Smuggling Game ‘Contraband’

Microsoft Gaming has halted active development on “Contraband,” a cooperative action game initially unveiled in 2021, according to a statement released Thursday by developer Avalanche Studios. The project, envisioned as an Xbox Series S and X exclusive accessible via Xbox Game Pass, Steam, and Windows 10 PC, was set within the 1970s-inspired world of Bayan and pitched as “a co-op smuggler’s paradise.”

Avalanche Studios Group and Xbox Game Studios Publishing had been collaborating on “Contraband” for several years. In a brief announcement posted to their website, the studio confirmed that ongoing development work has ceased while they reassess the game’s potential trajectory. They expressed gratitude for community engagement and promised further information regarding the project’s future as soon as it becomes available.

The cessation of development was first reported by Game File journalist Stephen Totilo. The indefinite pause marks a significant shift for the title, which had generated anticipation among fans since its initial announcement.