Play NYC: Avalanche Studios Group
As part of the PlayCrafting Play NYC events this weekend, we had the chance to speak with Kay Purcell (Community Manager) and other members of the Avalanche Studios NYC team. The creators of games like Just Cause, Mad Max, and Rage 2. Avalanche Studios is home to over 350 people between its four offices in Stockholm, Malmo, Liverpool, and NYC. Making it one of the largest video game entities in NYC.
Everything From The Event
Play NYC showcased Second Extinction, Generation Zero, and content updates to theHunter. Symbolically hanging in the background over everything, a screen playing the trailer for their most ambitious game yet, Contraband. Undoubtedly a title that may begin a long relationship between Xbox and Avalanche Studios. Not to be confused with Warner Bros. developer Avalanche Software, creators of the upcoming Hogwarts Legacy.
The Game Preview version of Second Extinction is available to play now on Steam and Xbox Game Pass. The three-player co-op shooter is a technically riveting game that takes great advantage of the Xbox Series consoles. The player feedback they have received has been extremely encouraging, prompting more content in the future. With that it is among our games you must check out on Xbox Game Pass.
Also at Play NYC from the team, theHunter and theHunter: Call of the Wild are live service hunting simulation games from Avalanche Studios. Base game theHunter is free to play and leans heavily on enthusiastic players going back for more with paid expansions. While theHunter: Call of the Wild can be purchased upfront with included expansion packs and DLC. Another Avalanche title that is available to play today on Xbox Game Pass.
No Contraband Provided
Of course, we pressed hard for updates on Contraband, and there was no give. Avalanche Studios is being super tight-lipped about their upcoming co-op shooter. The team is still not committed to publicly announcing a release window. Yet, we get the feeling internally they have some idea (of course they do). Although they did let us in on one small subtle detail in the Contraband trailer. Microsoft approved their use of the original 1975 Microsoft logo. A nice touch that allows the trailer to keep more of a tone from its 1970’s setting.
