Developer Of Just Cause And The Canceled Contraband Shuts Down Its UK Office
Diana Golenko
Avalanche Studios has officially closed its Liverpool (UK) office, completing the process the company first announced nearly two months ago. As a result, 31 employees have lost their jobs, further highlighting the ongoing wave of layoffs across the gaming industry.
In a statement published on the studio’s official website, the leadership thanked the team affected by the closure:
As we announced earlier this fall, we initiated a collective consultation process regarding the proposed closure of our Liverpool studio. We can now confirm that this process has concluded, that the studio has closed and that we have parted ways with 31 people. ...Our focus remains on supporting the Avalanchers through this transition and to carry on making great games for our player communities.
Plans to shut down the Liverpool office were first reported back in September — just weeks after the company revealed that development on Contraband had been halted. Avalanche Studios explained the decision as the result of an internal review and a strategic reassessment following the cancelation of the project.
At the time, the studio noted that the changes would affect all employees at the Liverpool location. Layoffs were also planned for the Malmö and Stockholm (Sweden) divisions, though there have been no updates regarding their status.
Earlier, concept art from Contraband surfaced online. The game was announced in 2021 and was canceled after four years of development.
-
![]()
It Looks Like Just Cause 5 Was in Development—But Got Canceled -
![]()
Avalanche Studios, Creators of Just Cause, Announce Layoffs and Closure of Liverpool Office -
![]()
Just Cause creator teases a dark open-world game that’s giving major GTA 4 vibes -
![]()
Leak: Screenshots of Canceled Contraband from the Creators of Just Cause Surface Online -
![]()
Just Cause Creator Christofer Sundberg Confirms Just Cause 5 Will Never Happen: “The Series Is Done”
