It's been a while now since we've heard anything about Just Cause. Indeed, since the release of Just Cause 4 in 2018, the Avalanche Studios franchise has remained particularly discreet. It must also be said that the last installment was far from being a great success, both critically and commercially. However, as confirmed by Square Enix in May 2022, this apparently didn't stop the publisher from ordering a fifth installment. A fifth installment that, ultimately, may never see the light of day.
Just Cause 5 canceled by Square Enix?
In any case, that's what Marcus Reynolds, a former developer at Sumo Digital, indicates on his LinkedIn profile. Indeed, according to the various experiences mentioned by the latter, he would have worked as Principal Game Designer and Feature Team Lead on Just Cause 5 between July 2021 and July 2023. His mission, in particular, was then to lead the team in charge of vehicle features which, as we know, occupy an important place in the gaming experience.
Nevertheless, what is particularly noteworthy is the mention "now canceled" affixed just behind the name of Just Cause 5. Because while Square Enix has still not decided on the evolution of the project after all these years, this could be confirmation that the title is finally no longer in the pipeline for the publisher. And this is not the only surprising information to be taken from Reynolds' profile, who, as mentioned above, was an employee of Sumo Digital. However, until now, the games have always been designed by Avalanche.
So what should we conclude from this? That Just Cause 5 was outsourced to another studio by Square Enix? Or that development was handled by the two teams in collaboration? As it stands, it remains difficult to say. However, we know that Avalanche has been hard at work on its next title, Contraband, since 2021, and it is likely that this has impacted the studio's role in the project. Moreover, at the same time, Sumo Digital began recruiting staff for a title belonging to "a well-established AAA open-world action franchise". Coincidence? Probably not.
The publisher remains silent on the situation
In any case, everything suggests that Just Cause 5 is now a thing of the past. But at the time of writing, Square Enix has still not officially ruled on the matter. And knowing the company's current position on its Western franchises, which, like Tomb Raider for example, have largely been resold in recent years, this is still cause for concern. Let's hope that clarification will be forthcoming soon, so that we can finally get some closure on this whole story.
Source: LinkedIn
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