Rumors have recently emerged that the Just Cause franchise might have been quietly canceled. This speculation has left fans wondering if they’ll ever see a Just Cause 5. So, what has led people to believe that such a popular open-world series could be over?
The story gained attention after an article from PC Gamer, where series creator Christofer Sundberg expressed his uncertainty about the franchise’s future. Sundberg shared that most of the original core team at Avalanche Studios, the developers behind Just Cause, have either left or been let go since the release of Just Cause 4. With so few original members remaining, he questioned how a proper sequel could begin development.
Sundberg explained that after Just Cause 4 launched, the team behind the series was gradually dismantled. Some members left voluntarily, while others were laid off. Additionally, Avalanche Studios has faced significant challenges, including layoffs, office closures, and the cancellation of other projects like Contraband. All of this has raised serious doubts about whether the studio has the capacity or resources to develop another Just Cause title.
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Financial pressure and loss of creativity are major concerns. Developing a large-scale open-world game like Just Cause requires a substantial budget and an experienced team. With both in short supply, it’s understandable why many think the franchise might be on pause or even shelved for now. Sundberg noted that Just Cause 4 wasn’t a major hit initially but improved over time with updates, similar to Generation Zero, another Avalanche project that had a rough start but later stabilized.
Currently, Sundberg leads his own studio, Liquid Swords, which focuses on narrative-driven open-world games. However, even that studio has reportedly experienced layoffs and restructuring. Given these realities, Sundberg has been careful in his comments; he didn’t confirm the franchise’s end outright but admitted the chances of a new Just Cause game soon are quite slim.
However, he also pointed out that many long-running franchises have survived even after losing their original creators. For example, DOOM was successfully revived under a completely new team. So while Just Cause may have lost its founding developers, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s finished.
In the broader context, Just Cause remains one of Avalanche’s most recognizable and valuable properties. Canceling such a well-known franchise outright seems unlikely. It’s more probable that it’s on hold, waiting for the right opportunity or perhaps a new team to reboot or reimagine it, similar to what happened with Saints Row.
Until there’s an official announcement, it’s best to view the franchise as dormant rather than dead. Fans still hope that one day, Just Cause will make a high-flying, explosive return.
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