Remember Contraband? That mysterious co-op smuggling game Avalanche Studios announced back at E3 2021? Well, even though Microsoft cancelled it in August 2025, we’re finally getting to see what the game actually looked like thanks to some newly surfaced screenshots.
MP1st got their hands on exclusive images from an artist’s portfolio who worked on the game’s interface design. These screenshots give us the first real look at what could have been one of Xbox’s most stylish exclusives, and honestly, it stings a bit more knowing what we lost.
What the Screenshots Actually Reveal
The leaked images showcase the game’s matchmaking UI and character designs, and they’re dripping with 1970s style. We’re talking mockups that were meant to show how the game’s menus would function, complete with highly stylized character portraits that suggest Avalanche was leaning hard into a non-realistic art direction.
The character portraits are particularly interesting. The screenshots show at least three different character designs, and based on their appearance, it looks like Contraband would have gone for a more stylized, almost comic book aesthetic rather than the photorealistic approach most AAA games chase these days. Think somewhere between Team Fortress 2 and a 70s crime thriller poster.
Four Player Co-Op Teams
Based on the UI elements visible in the screenshots, the game was clearly designed around 4-player co-op teams. The matchmaking interface shows slots for a full squad, which makes sense given that Avalanche originally described Contraband as a co-op smuggler’s paradise.
More interestingly, the images suggest a progression system built around criminal rankings. Players would apparently climb through different tiers like Hustler, Bandit, Smuggler, and Baron. It’s the kind of progression system that would have given players something to grind for while pulling off increasingly complex heists with friends.
The Downtown Map
One screenshot reveals a map called Downtown, featuring a striking illustration of a nighttime street scene complete with neon-lit storefronts. The visual style really emphasizes that nocturnal, underground smuggling atmosphere the game was aiming for. You can almost imagine cruising through those streets in a vintage 70s van, trying to avoid the law while completing your next big score.
The Rise and Fall of Contraband
Contraband was first announced during E3 2021 with just a brief CG teaser trailer. Set in the fictional world of 1970s Bayan, it was pitched as a co-op open world adventure where players would work together to pull off ambitious smuggling operations. The reveal trailer showed a heist map for something called the Sun River Job, which involved stealing a fireproof safe from Khoo Private Storage and getting it across the border.
After that initial announcement, the game went radio silent for four years. No gameplay footage, no release date, no major updates. Behind the scenes, Avalanche Studios was apparently working on the project for over five years total, but the game never made it past development.
Microsoft Pulls the Plug
In August 2025, both Microsoft and Avalanche Studios confirmed that active development on Contraband had stopped. The announcement came just a month after Microsoft laid off 9,000 employees across its gaming division, a restructuring that affected multiple Xbox projects.
Avalanche Studios posted a diplomatic statement saying they were evaluating the project’s future, but Bloomberg reported that Xbox had essentially cancelled the game outright. Sources indicated the decision came from Microsoft’s publishing division, which was significantly impacted by the July layoffs.
The Aftermath for Avalanche Studios
The cancellation of Contraband hit Avalanche Studios hard. In September 2025, just a month after the project was shelved, the company announced major restructuring. They closed their Liverpool studio entirely, impacting all staff members in that location, and reduced their workforce at the Malmo and Stockholm studios as well.
The studio, best known for the Just Cause series, Mad Max, and Rage 2, now has no publicly announced projects in development. Contraband remains listed on their website, but with no clear path forward, the future of the studio itself feels uncertain.
What Could Have Been
These leaked screenshots are bittersweet for anyone who was excited about Contraband. The 1970s aesthetic looks genuinely fresh in a market saturated with modern military shooters and fantasy epics. The stylized art direction, the focus on co-op heist gameplay, and the criminal progression system all suggested something different from the typical Xbox exclusive.
Beyond the playtests that reportedly went well, we never got to see actual gameplay footage or learn much about the core mechanics. The game was being built on Avalanche’s next generation Apex engine, which powered their previous open world titles, but how that would translate to a 70s smuggling experience remains a mystery.
FAQs
What was Contraband supposed to be about?
Contraband was planned as a co-op open world game set in the fictional world of 1970s Bayan. Players would team up in groups of four to pull off smuggling operations and heists, progressing through criminal ranks from Hustler to Baron. The game emphasized stylized 70s aesthetics and cooperative gameplay.
Why was Contraband cancelled?
Microsoft stopped development on Contraband in August 2025 as part of a major restructuring that saw 9,000 layoffs across their gaming division. The game had been in development for over five years at Avalanche Studios, but Microsoft’s publishing division decided to halt the project to focus on strategic growth areas.
When was Contraband originally announced?
Contraband was first revealed at E3 2021 with a brief CG teaser trailer. After the initial announcement, the game went silent for four years with no gameplay footage, release date, or major updates before being cancelled in August 2025.
What platforms was Contraband coming to?
Contraband was planned as an Xbox exclusive for Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X consoles. It was also set to launch on Windows 10 PC, Steam, and would have been available day one on Xbox Game Pass.
Who developed Contraband?
Contraband was being developed by Avalanche Studios Group in collaboration with Xbox Game Studios Publishing. Avalanche Studios is best known for creating the Just Cause series, Mad Max, and Rage 2.
Where did the leaked screenshots come from?
The exclusive screenshots were discovered by MP1st in the online portfolio of an artist who worked on Contraband’s interface design. The images show UI mockups, character designs, and concept art that were created during the game’s development.
What happened to Avalanche Studios after Contraband was cancelled?
In September 2025, about a month after Contraband was cancelled, Avalanche Studios announced major restructuring. They closed their Liverpool studio completely and reduced their workforce at their Malmo and Stockholm locations. The company currently has no publicly announced games in development.
Conclusion
The leaked Contraband screenshots offer a tantalizing glimpse into what could have been a standout Xbox exclusive. The stylized 1970s aesthetic, the focus on co-op heist gameplay, and the unique progression system all suggested Avalanche Studios was cooking up something special. Unfortunately, the game became another casualty of Microsoft’s massive 2025 restructuring, joining titles like Everwild and the Perfect Dark reboot on the cancellation list. For Avalanche Studios, the loss was especially devastating, leading to studio closures and layoffs just weeks after the project was shelved. These screenshots will have to serve as a memorial to an ambitious project that never got its chance to shine, reminding us of the creative risks that sometimes don’t make it to the finish line in today’s risk-averse gaming industry.