Contraband
News, coverage and analysis tracking Contraband across the outlets.
5 promising games recently cancelled by MicrosoftMicrosoft has recently cancelled several promising game projects, including 'Odyssey,' 'Everwild,' 'Perfect Dark,' 'Contraband,' and 'Project Blackbird,' as part of a broader cost-cutting strategy under new CEO Asha Sharma. These cancellations have led to studio closures and significant layoffs, with former employees expressing disappointment over the loss of potentially exciting titles and the shift away from riskier, ambitious projects.
Even with PS5 Ports, Many of Xbox's Games Have Been UnderperfomingAn internal memo from Xbox CEO Asha Sharma revealed that the division is operating at a 3% accountability margin, leading to layoffs. Many of Xbox's first-party games, even those with PlayStation 5 ports, have underperformed in sales and Xbox Game Pass engagement, failing to meet expectations.
Just Cause developer Avalanche Studios had a Crimson Desert-like game in the works but "every publisher just shut the door"Avalanche Studios, known for the Just Cause series, had a fantasy open-world game called AionGuard in development that shared similarities with Crimson Desert. Co-founder Christofer Sundberg revealed that the project was canceled after a publisher withdrew support, and subsequent attempts to announce it independently led other publishers to refuse involvement. The studio eventually moved on to other projects like Mad Max and Rage 2, with their co-op sandbox game Contraband also being canceled.
A $1,000 PS6 And Xbox Helix Are Dangerous For The Future Of GamingThis article discusses concerns about the future of gaming, particularly regarding potential high-priced next-generation consoles like a hypothetical $1,000 PlayStation 6 and Xbox Helix. It touches on the anticipation for upcoming titles like Halo, The Elder Scrolls VI, and Gears of War: E-Day, while also noting the current perceived lack of major first-party releases from PlayStation compared to Xbox.
Avalanche Studios reveals its Highlander-style, survival of the fittest R&D strategyAvalanche Studios Group is shifting its game development strategy to a 'survival of the fittest' R&D model, inspired by mobile game development. This approach involves small teams creating prototypes that are rigorously tested with their 'Front Runners' community to ensure audience appeal before significant investment. This comes after a period of studio closures and layoffs, with TheHunter: Call of the Wild remaining their flagship title.