It’s been a long while since anyone heard a peep about Contraband, the Xbox exclusive co-op game being developed by Avalanche Studios. The last time it showed up publicly was way back during Xbox’s E3 2021 showcase, and since then, it’s been nothing but crickets. But now, thanks to a recent job listing, it looks like the game is still very much in the works just quietly plugging along in the background.
The listing comes from Avalanche Studios Group, best known for the Just Cause series. They’re looking to bring on a Senior World Designer for what’s described as a “confidential AAA project.” That might not sound like much, but a few details in the post make it pretty clear this is referring to Contraband specifically, the mention of a continued partnership with Xbox Game Studios and development using Avalanche’s proprietary Apex engine.
It’s not exactly a full-blown reveal, but for folks who’ve been wondering whether the game had been quietly shelved, this is the most solid sign of life in years.
Contraband was first introduced with a short cinematic trailer that didn’t show much just a dusty garage packed with contraband goods, maps, and old radios. It was set in a fictional 1970s smuggling world called Bayan, with promises of cooperative open-world action. Since that teaser, though, no gameplay has surfaced, and Xbox hasn’t said much about it publicly.
There’s no indication in the job posting about how far along development is, or when players might see the game again. But the fact that Avalanche is hiring suggests the project is still being built, and probably not close to finished yet.
It’s worth noting that Xbox has been under pressure lately to deliver more standout first-party titles, especially with Game Pass continuing to be a major pillar of their strategy. Contraband, if done right, could end up being a unique addition something that mixes the studio’s open-world flair with co-op smuggling antics.
Whether we’ll get another look at it during Gamescom or The Game Awards later this year remains to be seen. But for now, the takeaway is simple: Contraband isn’t dead. It’s just taking its time.
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