Avalanche Studios, the developer behind the recently canceled Contraband, has announced its plans to close its office in Liverpool and lay off an unknown number of employees.
In a statement posted on the studio’s website, Avalanche says that the decision comes after an internal review and “in light of current challenges” to its business and the industry as a whole.
“This review has led us to the difficult conclusion that we must make changes to our staffing and locations,” the statement reads. “As a result, we are proposing to close our Liverpool studio, and to initiate a collective consultation process, as required by UK law. This will impact all Avalanchers in Liverpool.
“The changes will also impact our other studio locations in Malmö and Stockholm, where we will reduce our workforce and restructure the teams to address our games’ needs.”
Insider Gaming has reached out for clarification on the number of employees that will be impacted by the office closure and layoffs. Should a response be received, it will be added to this story.
The news of the layoffs and office closure shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. In August, it was announced that development was stopped on Contraband and that the game was canceled. At the time, Avalanche said it was going to “evaluate the project’s future”. With the layoffs, it might be safe to say that the game is officially no more.
In addition to Contraband, Avalanche Studios is best known as the developers of the Just Cause franchise along with titles like Rage 2 and TheHunter.
What do you think of Avalanche Studios’ decision to close its Liverpool office and lay off employees? Let us know down in the comments below, and join the newly relaunched Insider Gaming Discord server.
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Mike has been covering the gaming industry since 2012, and has reported on some of the largest events in the industry while also working as an investigative reporter. Outside of…
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UK is a dump not a good place to operate. But these guys should try pitching to Warner Bros or Skydance get rights to make a DC game like Superman and Jonah Hex. Generator Rex cel shaded they could do it.
They haven’t made a game in so long. Their parent company wasted money buying Supermassive Games. Influencers and gaming journo’s lead to this not just gaming but entertainment as a whole.