Contraband: Everything We Know

Avalanche Studios, a firm best known for RAGE, Just Cause, and Mad Max, is working to bring a new type of game to the mix—a “co-op smugglers paradise” sort of deal. And while we can't say for certain what this new venture, aptly titled Contraband, will look like, we can say that, in spite of its lack of gameplay teasers, Xbox Game Studios has been rather generous with just about every other detail on the board.

So, what more do you need to know about the upcoming multiplayer expedition? Will it be heading over to Game Pass as a day-one exclusive? Is it being built in any particular engine? Here's everything you need to know about it.

What Is Contraband?

Contraband is an upcoming co-op adventure game by Avalanche Studios. Set in the 1970s, the game will transport players to the center of a crime-riddled world—a concrete jungle in which robberies and grand-scale heists are commonplace. This is where you, either alone or with a crack team, will begin your journey.

According to the devs, Contraband will be the studio's most ambitious game to date—a promise that will come packaged in the latest and supposedly greatest version of the Apex Engine. So, if you though Avalanche had already outdone themselves a few years back with RAGE 2, then fear not; Contraband will reset the benchmark.

Story

As it currently stands, not a whole lot is known about the actual plotline, other than its general involvement with the 1970s, as well as a fictional world called Bayan, no less. It is here, immersed within this criminal underworld, that you will venture out and execute adrenaline-fueled heists and essentially monopolize the continent of Bayan.

Of course, we can't say for certain to what extent players will need to go to in order to be able to claim the riches bestowed upon Bayan. That said, going by the game's trailer, it appears missions will be slightly more extravagant than petty pawnshop robberies.

Gameplay

From what we clocked in the announcement trailer, Contraband will feature an open world setting. It'll also be explorable as a team, thanks to it being promoted as a co-op game by nature. But that isn't to say it won't loop in a single-player campaign, though. Fact is, Avalanche Studios has gone as far as to say the game will be playable either alone or with friends. So that's something.

As the title suggests, gameplay will mostly revolve around smuggling contraband cross-country, as well as engaging in explosive adrenaline-fueled heists. Like Sea of Thieves, but with a deeper 1970s aesthetic, and with Avalanche Studios' signature third-person combat and mechanics as depicted in the likes of Just Cause and Mad Max.

Apparently, Avalanche Studios will be “taking everything we've learned from 18 years of being at the forefront of creating beautiful, vast open game worlds filled with stunning vistas and incredible gameplay moments.” With that, you can expect to see a few familiar components—only with two or three fresh licks of paint and a highly ambitious online multiplayer mode.

Development

Smuggling’s your business, and business is booming.​

Dive into the open world of Contraband solo or with friends: https://t.co/e7ndNT9M3B | #XboxBethesda pic.twitter.com/0RUXreFxts

— Xbox (@Xbox) June 13, 2021

Going by what Avalanche Studios has said, Contraband will be build on the “next generation of the Apex Engine”, the same exact engine that helped launch Just Cause. And while we can't say for sure how long the project has actually been lodged in the pipeline, we can say that, with the initial announcement coming out back in 2021, it's been in active development for at least two years. And even then, Avalanche Studios' director, Omar Shakir, mentioned that the idea for a “co-op smugglers paradise” was in circulation three years prior. So, to our best knowledge, Contraband has been a product since 2018.

“To fully deliver on our vision for Contraband, we have an amazing team at Avalanche Studios that are pushing the boundaries with the next generation of our Apex Engine, the technology behind all our games, including the Just Cause series. We built the engine to unlock the creativity of our developers and we’re excited to take full advantage of the unique capabilities of Xbox Series X and S.”

Trailer

Contraband was first teased at the Xbox & Bethesda Showcase back in 2021, at which point Avalanche Studios released a rather mysterious trailer featuring a radical 70s backdrop and a Steely Dan soundboard to boot. You can see it for yourself in the video embedded above.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

While we don't know when Contraband will be coming out, we do know that it'll be heading to Xbox Series X|S and PC, and that it will also plant roots on Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate. So, in case you ever had any doubts, rest assured that Avalanche Studios will in fact be partnering up with Microsoft to bring the game to active subscribers on the day of launch.

As Contraband is being backed by Xbox Game Studios, you shouldn't get your hopes up over a possible PlayStation or Switch launch coming to light. If, by some random miracle, either of the rival platforms do get their hands on it, then it probably won't be for at least a year following its initial release. 2025, if we're lucky.

Unfortunately, Avalanche Studios has yet to make light of any potential launch editions or pre-order bonuses. Fact of the matter is, there aren't any to speak of. If this does change, then news is sure to spread like wildfire over on the developer's site. Until then, you can add the standard version to your wishlist here.

If you're interesting in sticking around and keeping tabs on Avalanche Studios' progress, then be sure to follow the official social feed for more updates here. Should anything change ahead of its release, we'll be sure to let you know all the key details right here on gaming.net.

So, what's your take? Will you be picking up a copy of Contraband when it releases? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.