Xbox Shelves Ambitious Cooperative Action Title, Contraband

Xbox Shelves Ambitious Cooperative Action Title, Contraband - readd.org 2025

icrosoft has halted development on “Contraband,” a cooperative action game being developed by Avalanche Studios, marking the latest in a series of project cancellations for the Xbox platform. The announcement comes after significant workforce reductions and prior shelving decisions earlier this year affecting titles like “Perfect Dark” and “Everwild,” underscoring ongoing adjustments within Microsoft’s gaming division.

“Contraband,” envisioned as a large-scale, open-world experience, was initially unveiled in 2021 with a promotional video that lacked significant detail about its gameplay. The project subsequently faced prolonged periods of silence from the development team. Avalanche Studios, known for the “Just Cause” franchise and their involvement in titles like the 2015 “Mad Max” game alongside the creation of 2019’s “Rage 2” (in collaboration with id Software), had reportedly been working on “Contraband” for four years.

In a statement posted to its website, Avalanche Game Studios confirmed the suspension of active development and indicated a reassessment of the project’s overall direction. The language used strongly implies that Microsoft initiated the decision to halt production. While no immediate plans are available, the studio expressed optimism about potentially revisiting “Contraband” with an update at a later date, leaving open the possibility of another publisher acquiring the rights and reviving the title.

The initial report detailing this development was published by GameDaily on August 7, 2025.

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