Just Cause developer Avalanche Studios hit with layoffs as it closes UK studio

Avalanche Studios, best known for developing the Just Cause series, has announced it is shuttering its UK location after the cancellation of its Xbox-exclusive title Contraband last month.

The details:

• In an update posted to its website, Avalanche confirmed that its Liverpool-based studio will be shutting down and that restructuring will take place across its other studios in Sweden, resulting in an undisclosed number of layoffs. “In light of current challenges to our business and the industry, we have thoroughly reviewed how to best ensure Avalanche Studios Group’s long-term success,” the studio said. “This review has led us to the difficult conclusion that we must make changes to our staging and locations. As a result, we are proposing to close our Liverpool studios and to initiate a collective consultation process, as required by UK law.”
• In August, Avalanche confirmed that it had stopped development on Contraband, an open-world co-op title that was set to be exclusive to Xbox. It was announced during E3 2021, but no updates were provided about the project in the years following until it was put “on hold” while Avalanche has taken time to “evaluate the project’s future.”

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