Avalanche Studios moves unannounced AAA open-world game into pre-production

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By Gaming News
26 May 2026 no comments
Avalanche Studios is working on a mysterious project, shifting from the Apex Engine to Unreal
Key Takeaways
  • Avalanche Studios has moved an unannounced AAA open-world multiplayer game into pre-production.
  • The developer is shifting away from its proprietary Apex Engine to build the project on Unreal Engine.
  • Recruitment data confirms live-service elements, following Microsoft’s cancellation of the co-op title Contraband.

What is Avalanche Studios’ New Project?

Avalanche Studios is developing an unannounced AAA multiplayer live-service game set in a large-scale open world. Recent job listings confirm the project has transitioned from prototyping into formal pre-production.

The development team is focusing heavily on backend multiplayer stability, networking replication, and continuous post-launch content rollouts.

Public recruitment listings from the developer’s Stockholm office, spotted initially via reports on Twitter/X, outline roles for a Technical Director and a Gameplay Systems Programmer.

These positions reveal that the studio is expanding its technical infrastructure to support a persistent online environment. The studio is best known for single-player sandboxes like Just Cause, Mad Max, and Rage 2. Transitioning to a live-service framework marks a major strategic shift for the Swedish developer.


Abandoning the Apex Engine for Unreal Engine

The technical requirements reveal that Avalanche is dropping its long-standing proprietary Apex Engine used up until Just Cause 4. For this unannounced title, the team is migrating fully to Unreal Engine.

The incoming Technical Director will oversee this architectural pivot, tasked with turning a successful prototype into a stable, production-ready system. The role demands deep familiarity with the Unreal Gameplay Framework to optimize multiplayer performance across PC and current-gen consoles.

Furthermore, the Gameplay Systems Programmer position requires specific experience with Unreal Engine’s Gameplay Ability System (GAS). The candidate must also possess data-driven design literacy to manage ongoing feature updates.

Also learn more about the early confirmations of the new unannounced AAA game by Avalanche Studios!


Restructuring After the Cancellation of Contraband

This strategic pivot follows a turbulent period of internal restructuring for Avalanche Studios Group. In August 2025, Microsoft canceled Contraband, a 1970s co-op heist game that had been in development for nearly four years as an Xbox ecosystem exclusive.

The cancellation led to broader organizational changes, including the closure of the company’s Liverpool office. Shifting resources to this new Unreal Engine project represents an effort to stabilize the studio’s creative pipeline.

While the project remains unannounced, the job descriptions do not rule out established intellectual properties. The studio could be applying these multiplayer systems to a potential Just Cause sequel or an entirely new franchise.

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A video game enthusiast ever since I first got my hands on a Game Boy. Over the years, I've played many different games across various genres, discovering hidden gems and niche titles along the way. I'm also passionate about technology, always up-to-date with the latest news and insight in the PC and Console market. Ready to share and bring you the latest news !

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