Microsoft has officially stopped development on Contraband after Avalanche Studios' Liverpool branch shut down, resulting in 31 job losses. The game, which was first revealed at E3 2021, aimed to offer a cooperative smuggling experience in a 1970s setting. This closure adds to Microsoft’s growing list of projects impacted by workforce cuts, including Rare's Everwild and the Perfect Dark reboot. How do you think this will affect the future of cooperative games?
Published on: 11/20/2025
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