Xbox’s ‘Contraband’ Video Game on Hold After More Than Five Years in Development

Xbox and Avalanche Studios have stopped “active development” on their upcoming “Contraband” video game.

First announced by Microsoft Gaming in 2021, “Contraband” is described as “a co-op smuggler’s paradise set in the fictional world of 1970s Bayan.” The title from Avalanche Studios and Xbox Game Studios was planned as an exclusive to Xbox Series S and X consoles, and set for release on Xbox Game Pass, Steam, and Windows 10 PC.

Sources tell Variety that “Contraband” production is on hold while the creative team behind the game figures out next steps for the title, which has been in the works for more than five years, and that no jobs at publisher Xbox are being impacted by the decision to put “Contraband” development on hold.

“Over the past several years, Avalanche Studios Group and Xbox Game Studios Publishing have collaborated on ‘Contraband,’” Avalanche Studios said in a statement titled “An Update on ‘Contraband’” posted to its website Thursday. “Active development has now stopped while we evaluate the project’s future. We’re thankful for the excitement we’ve seen from the community since we announced and will give an update on what’s next as soon as we can.”

The news that development has been paused on “Contraband” was first reported by Game File’s Stephen Totilo.

More to come…