• Avalanche Studios, the developer behind the Contraband game, has announced the closure of two of its locations and the layoff of approximately 50 employees. The studio cited the need to focus on its core projects and streamline its operations as the primary reasons for these changes.

• The affected locations were the company's offices in New York City and Malmö, Sweden. Avalanche Studios stated that this decision was not a reflection of the quality or performance of the teams at these locations but rather a strategic move to ensure the studio's long-term sustainability.

• The studio emphasized that it remains committed to its ongoing projects, including the development of Contraband, which is set to be published by Xbox Game Studios. Avalanche Studios expressed confidence in its ability to deliver high-quality games and maintain its reputation as a leading game development studio despite these organizational changes.