For fans holding out hope for another high-flying, explosion-filled adventure with Rico Rodriguez, the dream of Just Cause 5 appears to be officially grounded. According to the franchise's own creator, the project is a "no-go," a casualty of a profound talent drain and internal turmoil at Avalanche Studios that has culminated in the recent cancellation of their co-op game, Contraband.
The grim prognosis comes from Christofer Sundberg, the co-founder and original creative force behind the Just Cause series. Sundberg, who left the studio in 2019, recently commented on leaked images of the now-scrapped Contraband, using the opportunity to dash any hopes for a new sequel. In a social media post that has sent ripples through the gaming community, he stated bluntly, “#JC5 would be a no-go since extremely few from the original team are there still.”
A "Qualified Guess" Points to Deeper Problems
Sundberg initially described his assessment as a “qualified guess,” but his subsequent replies painted a much starker picture of a studio struggling with its identity and hemorrhaging the very talent that built its reputation. The roots of this decline, he suggests, can be traced back to the troubled development of Just Cause 4.
Released nearly seven years ago in December 2018, Just Cause 4 landed with a thud, receiving mixed reviews from critics and players alike. While it retained the series' signature vast open world and grappling hook, it was criticized for persistent glitches, divisive weather mechanics, and a perceived departure from the pure, unadulterated chaos that defined its beloved predecessor, Just Cause 3. Though post-launch updates eventually salvaged the experience for many dedicated fans, the damage to the studio's morale and reputation was already underway.
In a moment of candid reflection, Sundberg took partial responsibility for the title's rocky development. “The problems with JC4 were partly me (unwillingly) moving away from creative leadership to more corporate crap, publisher problems, team composition and roles, and more,” he wrote. “Sad, because looking at JC4 now, it shows SO much promise.”
The Fire is Gone: A Founder’s Lament
The conversation online saw a flicker of optimism from one fan, who suggested that Just Cause 5 could still be the project to save the company. Sundberg’s response was swift and definitive, revealing a philosophical chasm between the studio's founding vision and its current trajectory.
“I doubt it,” he replied. “They need to find the fire again, take risks, piss people off, and make games the rest said was impossible. I started Avalanche to break the mold, not fit into one.”
This sentiment highlights a core struggle within the modern gaming industry: the tension between creative ambition and corporate sustainability. The "talent drain" Sundberg refers to isn't just about numbers; it's about the loss of the specific, risk-taking ethos that gave birth to a franchise about a grapple-hooking secret agent causing revolutions.
The Final Blow: Contraband's Cancellation and Layoffs
The hopes for a studio resurgence were largely pinned on Contraband, a co-op smuggling game set in a 1970s-inspired world. Initially pitched to Microsoft by Sundberg and his team back in 2017, the project was meant to be Avalanche's next big, original IP.
However, those plans were shattered by Microsoft's recent widespread restructuring. The cancellation of Contraband was followed by massive layoffs across Avalanche Studios Group. By late September, the company announced the closure of its Liverpool office and significant staff reductions in its Malmo and Stockholm studios, citing broader "industry challenges."
This one-two punch—the cancellation of a flagship project and the subsequent loss of skilled developers—has left the future of Avalanche Studios, and by extension the Just Cause franchise, in serious doubt.
While the IP itself is owned by Square Enix, the creative engine that brought Rico Rodriguez to life has, according to its creator, largely dissipated. For now, the world of Medici and its chaotic liberation will remain a memory, a testament to a time when Avalanche Studios was truly willing to break the mold.
For those looking to revisit the series' last official entry, you can find it here: