Just Cause Creator Says a Fifth Game Is Unlikely as Avalanche Faces Ongoing Struggles

It appears that fans hoping for Just Cause 5 may have to let go of that dream. Series creator Cristofer Sundberg, who co-founded Avalanche Studios and served as its creative force for over a decade, revealed on X (formerly Twitter) that it’s “very unlikely” the franchise will see another mainline entry.

Sundberg, who left Avalanche in late 2020 to establish his new studio Liquid Swords, shared his perspective while discussing his experience pitching Contraband, a now-canceled Xbox exclusive that was in development at Avalanche.

“Me and my team pitched Contraband back in 2017 to Microsoft (and signed it). It’s changed quite a lot since then, obviously, but it would have been fantastic to see it being released one day somehow. Just Cause 5 would be a no-go since extremely few from the original team are there still.”

A Frank Reflection on Just Cause 4’s Problems

In his posts, Sundberg reflected on the challenges that plagued Just Cause 4, released in 2018, citing both internal and external issues that hindered its development.

“The problems with JC4 were partly me (unwillingly) moving away from creative leadership to more corporate crap, publisher problems, team composition and roles, and more. Sad, because looking at JC4 now, it shows so much promise.”

When a fan suggested that Just Cause 5 could revitalize Avalanche Studios, Sundberg was blunt in his response:

“I doubt it. They need to find the fire again, take risks, piss people off, and make games the rest said were impossible. I started Avalanche to break the mold, not to fit into one.”

Avalanche Studios, known for its large-scale open-world action games, has faced major challenges in recent years. Its most recent high-profile project, Contraband, was reportedly shut down by Microsoft in August 2025, resulting in the closure of Avalanche’s Liverpool office and layoffs across its Stockholm and Malmö teams.

These cuts followed earlier closures in Montréal and New York in mid-2024, where around fifty employees were laid off. The studio has yet to announce any new projects since then.

Since leaving Avalanche, Sundberg has been building Liquid Swords, a new studio focused on “open-world action with attitude.” The team is currently developing an ambitious GTA-like title, which debuted its first in-game footage last year and recently received a short teaser showcasing the game’s visual style and tone.

While Just Cause 5 seems unlikely, fans of Sundberg’s high-energy, physics-driven gameplay may find some of that same creative DNA in Liquid Swords’ upcoming project.

Just Cause 4 remains the last mainline entry in the franchise, released in December 2018 to mixed reviews. Many players praised its explosive sandbox design but criticized its lack of innovation and technical issues. With Sundberg’s comments, the future of the franchise appears uncertain, perhaps even over, unless Avalanche can rediscover the experimental spirit that made Just Cause a defining name in open-world gaming.

 
Would you like to see Just Cause 5 someday, or do you think the series should rest while Sundberg builds something new with Liquid Swords?