Just Cause 5 Appears To Be In Development At Square Enix

The publisher has retained the IP

by Ben Kerry Tue 7th Jun 2022

Just Cause 5 Appears To Be In Development At Square Enix

Square Enix may have sold off a bunch of its Western studios to Embracer Group, but it has retained some of its most popular franchises. In particular, Just Cause is still in Square's hands, and the company has now revealed that work is underway on a new Just Cause game.

Word comes from the publisher's recent earnings call, where Square detailed future plans for its owned IP. The presentation states that Just Cause is still one of their owned IP, and the company is "at work developing a new title in the franchise".

Just Cause 5 Appears To Be In Development At Square Enix 2 — *Image: Just Cause 4, Square Enix*

There's no more detail on what that title is specifically, or when it might launch, but yep, for all intents and purposes 'Just Cause 5' is in development is some fashion.

The open world action series appears to be one of the only Western franchises the company has kept a hold of, as it is in the process of selling the majority to Embracer Group. Historically, Avalanche Studios has worked on Just Cause, the team which is currently developing the Xbox exclusive, Contraband.

Looking forward to a new Just Cause? Let us know down in the comments below.

[source metro.co.uk]

Ben is a News Writer at Pure Xbox, and is a fan of action, racing and straight-up shootin' in any Xbox game he can get his hands on. When he's not clutching an Xbox controller like his life depends on it, Ben spends his time listening to music that's far too old for him, watching football on the telly and probably eating somewhere.

1
themightyant
Tue 7th Jun 2022

Hopefully they learn that bigger isn't usually better. JC1-4 is a cautionary tale of thinking larger yet duller, emptier landmasses make a better game. Sure there's some fun to be had in between the drudgery but they really need to let go of pure scale as a goal.

2
Krzzystuff
Tue 7th Jun 2022

I wonder what lofty expectations they have for it? When did they last release/publish anything that met expectations?

3
OM1993
Tue 7th Jun 2022

@themightyant Couldn't agree more. I thought they nailed it with JC 2, I personally see that as the best sandbox game ever made, but JC 3 and 4 definitely suffer from being way too big, way too bloated, and yet lacking in substance.

4
Widey85
Tue 7th Jun 2022

The first one is one of my favourite games, over-the-top action hero stuff at just the right size - 2 was good but don't recall if I actually finished it.

In many ways I miss the simplicity of the first one - few weapons, few stats etc. to worry about, and mostly just get on with it and enjoy yourself.

The later ones (particularly the last 2) have been trying to do too much - they need to make smaller, more detailed maps and do the few weapons and toys they have work great everywhere

5
themightyant
Tue 7th Jun 2022

@Widey85 @OM1993 agreed with both of you. 1&2 were simple, fun, sandboxes. 3&4 just got far too big and boring, if you’d played it for a few hours you’d seen most of what was on offer. No locations were memorable etc. Gave up on both.

Would prefer they make it smaller, denser sandbox and go completely OTT like Total Overdose. 😂

6
Sol4ris
Tue 7th Jun 2022

@Krzzystuff
"I wonder what lofty expectations they have for it?"

That depends on the studio developing the game, if it's a western studio than it has to sell 20 million to meet expectations. If, however is developed in house or outsourcing to a Japanese studio, than 1.5 million would exceed expectations - the Squeenix way of doing things.