Back in August, it was confirmed that Microsoft and Avalanche Studios had officially stopped development on Xbox exclusive Contraband, four years after the game was first revealed. In that four years, we’d seen practically nothing on what the game would actually look like – but now, some early screenshots have leaked that at least showcase some early UI from the once-planned Xbox adventure.
As shared by MP1st, a batch of early screenshots are now online that showcase how the game would work in terms of matchmaking and getting into the meat of the experience. Remember, it was discovered that Contraband was planned as a live service title – so this was likely the route that Xbox and Avalanche Studios were going down in terms of it being an online-focused experience.
Here’s a look at those early screenshots:
MP1st has added an update mentioning that the character models seen here are likely placeholders; having discovered that they were also shared as part of a Marvel project from a fellow games industry artist. The style of those models was probably not final then – and the more interesting stuff here is how the UI looks, and that small hint at what the ‘Downtown’ area could have looked like in-game.
Unfortunately, this will never see the light of day now – and following the game’s cancellation, the studio also confirmed that it had closed its UK branch “in light of current challenges to our business and the industry”. Here’s hoping that the Just Cause developer finds its feet again and delivers another experience Xbox fans can enjoy somewhere down the line.
What do you make of these early screenshots? Talk to us about Contraband down below.
[source mp1st.com]
Ben is a News Writer at Pure Xbox, and is a fan of action, racing and straight-up shootin’ in any Xbox game he can get his hands on. When he’s not clutching an Xbox controller like his life depends on it, Ben spends his time listening to music that’s far too old for him, watching football on the telly and probably eating somewhere.