Just Cause dev prepping new next-gen IP

By Fred Dutton Published 15 June, 2011

New US office working for 2014 launch.

Stockholm-based Just Cause developer Avalanche Studios has just set up an outpost in New York to create a new IP for next-gen systems.

All it's saying right now is that the game will be "AAA", ex-Mindspark creative lead Roland Lesterlin is directing and it's targeting a 2014 release.

The new office, headed up by former Activision and Atari executive David Grijns, will also develop titles for handhelds and PC. It plans to employ 50 staff during its first two years of operation.

"While most developers and publishers are focused on expanding (or contracting) their operations in over-crowded industry centers such as Los Angeles, San Francisco or Seattle, New York provides us with a diverse talent pool from which to create our next big console title," commented Avalanche Studios founder Christofer Sundberg.

Sundberg shouldn't have too much trouble finding potential recruits in the region. Earlier this week, THQ announced it was closing down Kaos Studios, the New York-based developer behind Homefront.

Avalanche is also working on twin-stick shooter Renegade Ops for PC, PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade, due out later this year.

Picture of Fred.

About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

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Comments (19) Latest comment 11 months ago

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  • JayeM #1 11 months ago

    Just Cause 2 was one of the best looking games of this generation I think, so I can't wait to see what they come up with for the next-gen.

  • Sid-Nice #2 11 months ago

    PS4 exclusive then?

  • des #3 11 months ago

    Wii U Super HD exclusive

  • The-Jack-Burton #4 11 months ago

    Just cause 2 was a massive achievement. I wish I didn't have to wait until next gen to get a full fledged game from these guys.

  • Sid-Nice #5 11 months ago

    I'll put this game on the TimeSplitters 4 and BG&E2 list of games wanted.

  • Redflooch #6 11 months ago

    I still think the engine they used in just cause 2 is one of the best around. Practically no loading times for a game with practically the largest map ever made. Not to mention the beautiful graphics

  • Shabbaranks #7 11 months ago

    How long will it be before Microsoft or Sony crack and actually say something about next gen hardware?

  • Drygore #8 11 months ago

    Not to mention that on PC it MUST be the best looking game around atm. I love that engine, it's amazing.

  • Haloboy #9 11 months ago

    Just Cause 2 is honestly one of my favourite games of this gaming generation. I've poured over 100 hours into it and still not yet reached the coveted halfway there achievement. I never stop being impressed by the amount of stuff there is to do and things to see. It's a game that's not left my hard drive since it was first released back in march 2010 and I still pour more time into it at every given opportunity than any game I've owned since. How many others games bar MMO's can claim to have done the same I ask you?

    Whether I want to spend thirty minutes or three hours gaming Just Cause 2 simply never stops delivering. The engine itself still messes with my head as to how well it streams the open world when other newer games don't even look half as good and fail to match it's scale, size and exotic world. Yet JC2 can do it all with nothing more than a quick load at the very start.

    A friend of mine dubbed Just Cause 2 the best 3D game ever made, although I won't agree with that completely I will agree it took a massive step in the right direction towards the game that one day will be. Funnily enough it will most probably be called Just Cause 3. ;)

  • dickothe1st #10 11 months ago

    Stop coming out with this AAA garbage. It tells us nothing. "It will be a game" would have been a more informative thing to say; "It will have graphics" or "I think we're gonna have a main menu" perhaps. Outstanding.

  • dagas #11 11 months ago

    Why did they set it up in New York? Just (be)Cause

  • Lamb #12 11 months ago

    Just Cause 2 is probably the best sandbox game ever made and probably the best game ever made for replay value without ever actually finishing the game as its massive and the environments are seamless and stunning. There is some repetition if you don't like blowing things up or hijacking ten consecutive military helicopters because Scorpio just can't be contained.

    I would like to see a patch to get the vehicles and ordinance for free or at drastically reduced prices from Air Sheldon, that way I can drive my favorite vehicles and use my favorite weapons more often. Though the chute is still the fastest mode of travel for the most part.

  • FortysixterUK #13 11 months ago

    boooooo...just say no to next gen...keep the Xbox 360 and PS3 for another 5-10 years.
    Here's my slogan, and I want you all to repeat after me:-

    "Current gen gaming top of the class, stuff the next gen up your arse"

    ok, ok....I may have ripped the gist of that from an old comic strip presents tv show ( Bad news tour) but it's relevant and important.

    Other quotes may include:-
    "Hey babe, you're my bag"
    "Don't you dare wind me up"
    "it says SAUSAGES up there"
    and of course...
    "If Vim doesn't say we're heavy metal I'm leaving"
    " Alright...we're heavy metal, heavy metal..heavy fucking metal...ALRIGHT?"

    I realise some of this post may not have been entirely about xbox.
    I'm sorry.

  • alcides #14 11 months ago

    I also wish we could still be amazed at current gen games in five years' time. But there's a future made of autostereoscopy and very high definition ahead of us. You'll never be able to afford a house.

  • lemonfist #15 11 months ago

    Just Cause 2 is so damned good. In fact, it is the only sandbox game I've ever really liked because of the sandbox element itself. Every other game of its type I've only enjoyed in spite of it, maybe apart from the first time I played GTA3.

    Just Cause 2 gets the sandbox stuff right because, first of all, it makes traveling actually fun (parachute, grappling hook), and then it litters a huuuge fucking map with so much to collect and blow up, and then it concentrates small portions of these into seperate locations so that each of them feel almost like levels in a 3D platformer or something, essentially small sandboxes inside one motherfucking huge one, where you scour the area for stuff to pick up and DESTROY EVERYTHING IN SIGHT!

    Renegade Ops also looks like an awesome twin-stick shooter, and whatever they're cooking up for 2014 is on my list.
    Edited by lemonfist at 16/06/11 @ 08:34

  • rob_of_the_robots #16 11 months ago

    "You'll never be able to afford a house."

    You mean like we can't afford houses now.

  • Notorious_LRO #17 11 months ago

    Renegade Ops was a lot of fun and really competitive. You are twin stick driving, trying to beat the other cars to objectives (such as rescuing hostages and delivering them to a church). The handling of the cars was maybe a bit too wobbley playing the E3 demo. The creative director said they came up with the idea after toying around with Just Cause 2 with a top down view.

  • mrblonde #18 11 months ago

    @jayem


    Agree completely the just cause 2 engine was indeed superb , far better than any of rockstars open worlds this generation.
    Although not unlike rockstar, if they could sort their gun combat out (JC2 was not as bad as the awful rdr/gta4,s), their titles would play far better.

  • ToAks #19 11 months ago

    lovely team and as always with swedish developers, skills and tech is top notch.
    a fantastic team and they have my uptmost repect.

    2014 they say?, then theyre doing it on pure base pc kits for now, and i bet they will just build upon the portability kit so when the next consoles arrive they have it ready.