Just Cause maker Avalanche is opening a new studio in Canada

Avalanche Studios Group has announced plans to open a new office in Montreal, Canada.

The move follows the acquisition of Monster Closet, a Montreal-based studio founded in 2021 by a team of veteran game developers with a shared history of working at Ubisoft.

Stockholm, Sweden-based Avalanche also has offices in Malmö (Sweden), New York (US) and Liverpool (UK).

Avalanche specialises in open-world games. As well its Just Cause series, it developed 2015’s Mad Max and co-developed 2019’s Rage 2 with id Software.

It’s currently working on Contraband, which is set to be published by Xbox Game Studios for console and PC.

The new IP, which is officially billed as “a co-op smuggler’s paradise set in the fictional world of 1970s Bayan”, will reportedly be focused on vehicle combat.

Monster Closet’s developers have previously worked on games including Halo Wars 2, Far Cry: Primal, 2008’s Prince of Persia, Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag and Hyper Scape.

They have already been integrated into Avalanche Studios Group’s three creative divisions: Avalanche Studios (Just Cause), Expansive Worlds (The Hunter) and Systemic Reaction (Second Extinction).

“2023 marks Avalanche Studios Group’s 20th anniversary, and becoming a part of Montreal’s thriving game development scene is a fantastic way to start our new chapter,” said Avalanche Studios Group CEO Stefanía Halldórsdóttir.

“With this addition to our locations, we bring on board some of the brightest talents in the industry, reinforcing our ability to create fantastic games for millions of players around the world.”

“From the very first moment we met, we knew that Avalanche Studios Group would be a perfect fit for us,” commented Graeme Jennings, former CEO of Monster Closet, who’s now leading the new Montreal office.

“We share the same passion for our craft and for creating great games. Not to speak about our common values around people, inclusion, collaboration, and making sure all voices are heard.”