Earlier in the year, Square Enix struck a deal with the Embracer Group to sell a number of its western studios for $300 million. Franchises that had a long association with Square Enix including Tomb Raider and Deus Ex were included as part of the sale. However, the fate of some IPs remained uncertain, such as Just Cause.
Just Cause was one franchise where players were uncertain if it had changed hands. The series was created by Avalanche Studios and started life on the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. Players take control of Rico Rodriguez in an open world, where the main objective is to cause havoc and liberate an island from an oppressive regime by any means necessary. Just Cause 4 was the latest entry in the series, releasing across PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC in 2018.
In the latest end-of-year financial report, Square Enix has assured shareholders that the Just Cause IP was retained after the sale of part of the business and that a new title is currently being developed. The full quote from Yosuke Matsuda can be found below:
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.
As this information was disclosed at an investor level, there are no confirmed details. The news could be in relation to Just Cause Mobile which is due this year on iOS and Android devices after suffering a delay due to COVID. The free-to-play game is being developed by a new team at Square Enix and takes the form of a top-down PVP shooter. Players compete with and against other gamers in one of four game modes. Details are under wraps, but players can expect to see the over-the-top action that fans are accustomed to. However, Matsuda covered 2022/23 expectations for their mobile division earlier in the presentation in which he highlighted Echoes Of Mana and Full Metal Alchemist Mobile as their drivers for the coming fiscal year.
If Just Cause 5 is indeed a fully-fledged console and PC game, it would be expected that Avalanche will once again helm the development as there have been recent job postings for an "unannounced AAA game." The company, however, is currently focussing on, Contraband, an open-world, cooperative shooter exclusive to Xbox Series X/S consoles meaning a return of Rico Rodriguez could be years away.
While it is currently unknown what form the game takes, knowing that the Just Cause franchise is still a priority for Square Enix will be a relief for fans. It will remain to be seen if there will be any announcements during this month’s Summer Games Fest, even if it is a small teaser trailer confirming the next game’s existence.
Just Cause Mobile is scheduled for a 2022 release on iOS and Android
Source: Square Enix Earnings Report