Microsoft bloodbath continues 9,000 layoffs later with the death of Contraband, the '70s co-op game from the studio behind open-world hit Just Cause, and it seems Hideo Kojima's OD is the only thing that's safe

Contraband screenshot from the cinematic trailer showing treasure circled on a map.

Avalanche Studios has confirmed that development on Contraband, the Xbox-exclusive '70s co-op game, has ended. The news comes a month after mass layoffs at Microsoft affecting 9,000 employees, which included many in the gaming division and led to the cancellation of projects like Everwild and the long-delayed Perfect Dark.

"Over the past several years, Avalanche Studios Group and Xbox Game Studios Publishing have collaborated on Contraband," the developer says in a statement. "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."