Just Cause was one of the IPs (Intellectual Properties) Square Enix did not sell off last week. The Japanese studio reportedly has sold most of its studios and publishing houses in the west, including Crystal Dynamics, Eidos Montreal, Square Enix Montreal, and some of its record-breaking IPs like Tomb Raider and Deus Ex. The company wants to restructure its portfolio and business strategy with a larger focus on online gaming. The studio has announced that they will be establishing and buying out new studios to make this possible.
Square Enix also confirmed that they are not focused on the blockchain and NFTs as of now. The publisher will be spending all proceeds from its studio sales on developing its future portfolio. Square Enix wants to maintain its stronghold in the digital entertainment industry.
More Info on the Upcoming Just Cause Title
Just Cause has not been the most popular IP for Square Enix. However, the fast-paced action-centered open-world action-adventure games from the series have gathered a large audience over the years. Although with Square Enix’s shifting priorities it may feel like the series will be discontinued, their President, Yosuke Matsuda, recently announced that the Japanese studio is looking to come up with another entry in the series.
“We want to focus on creating new titles that align with our strategy, including ones that leverage new IP. The JUST CAUSE franchise will remain our IP, and we are at work developing a new title in the franchise,” were the words of Matsuda. That is all the information we have on the upcoming Just Cause. The rest is speculation and imagination. The upcoming title could be anything from a live service game to an online-only title or even a battle royale. It also can be a mobile game if Square Enix decides to tap into the wide audience smartphones have reached.
Avalanche Studios, the developers of the Just Cause series, Mad Max, and Rage 2, is currently busy developing a multiplayer co-op shooter title by the name Contraband. This game was announced last year in the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase. Additionally, we expect the game to be in development for two more years. Thus, it remains uncertain whether Avalanche is developing this upcoming Just Cause title, further pointing at the fact that it undoubtedly can shift from its roots.