The cycle of death and rebirth continues in the vast world of the Avatar. Paramount Game Studios and Saber Interactive announced a brand new AAA title based on the beloved Nickelodeon animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra on Monday. Instead of incorporating well-known characters like Aang and Korra, this action-RPG title will feature a unique story, allowing players to assume the role of a “never-before-seen Avatar”.
The new Avatar game is being developed for Windows PC and consoles. The story will take place thousands of years in the past in an “unexplored area”, as stated in the release. According to the developers, “players can expect to be fully immersed in a vibrant world, master all four elements, engage in exciting combat alongside companions”, and generally experience the various ups and downs that come with the heavy responsibility of being the Avatar.
Paramount Game Studios and Saber Interactive are the development team behind Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. According to the release, the story for the new Avatar title was crafted in “close collaboration with Avatar Studios”, a division of Nickelodeon Animation Studio led by the original franchise creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko.
So far, these are all the details we have. Fans will have to wait and see how the team brings this vision to life. Adaptations of the beloved Nickelodeon cartoon have been numerous, but not all have been successful. Whether it’s the disappointing movie by M. Night Shyamalan or the controversial Avatar: The Last Airbender – Quest for Balance game, Avatar fans know better than to get their hopes up too high. However, there are signs of change! Netflix’s ongoing live-action TV adaptation was greenlit for a second season, and the recent Avatar and Fortnite collaboration was quite impressive as well.
So while a new Avatar game might raise some concerns, it’s moments like these when I think of a bit of wisdom from Uncle Iroh: “Destiny is a funny thing. You never know how things will turn out.”