Avatar is getting a 2D fighting game this July

Gameplay Group International and PM Studios are releasing Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game on July 23 for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. The 2D fighter will launch with a 12-character base roster, rollback netcode, and full crossplay support for $30.

It is a 1v1 fighting game that pulls characters from both The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra. The developers went with a traditional four-button setup and hand-drawn 2D animations. They aimed for a look that mimics the original television shows rather than forcing the cast into 3D arenas. Each character has over 900 hand-drawn frames to keep the combat looking fluid.

Gameplay Group International previously developed the indie fighting game Them's Fightin' Herds. That project originally started as a fan game before evolving into a standalone release known for its tight mechanics. The studio is bringing that technical experience to a much larger license here.

The base roster covers the expected heavy hitters. Aang, Korra, Zuko, Azula, and Toph are all playable at launch. Players also select from a pool of support characters to bring into matches. These assist fighters alter playstyles and grant different special moves depending on the pairing. Finding the right assist to cover a main fighter's weaknesses is a staple of this genre, and the system allows for plenty of experimentation.

A proprietary "Flow System" drives the momentum-based combat. The mechanics reward players for aggressive positioning and movement. Players build up Energy Points during a match to spend on enhanced special moves and cinematic Super Arts.

Year one additions

A Year 1 Pass will add five more fighters to the game. Four of those are already confirmed: Bolin, Ty Lee, Lin Beifong, and Iroh. The fifth slot is currently a mystery. The Deluxe Edition costs $50 and includes this pass.

Under the hood, the game has tools aimed squarely at the competitive crowd. The training mode includes active hitbox displays and frame data. There are also save states for drilling specific setups and combo trials for learning the roster.

The single-player offerings include a brand-new story mode. Show creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Tim Hedrick outlined the narrative. The plot involves shaping the fate of time and space, which handily explains how characters from different eras can fight each other. After finishing the main campaign, players can run through individual arcade ladders that have specific storylines for every playable character. The package also includes a gallery mode with original concept art from the shows.

Platform availability

The game is coming to PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Steam on July 23. Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 ports are planned for a later date. Anyone who pre-orders through storefronts like the PlayStation Store gets access to a closed beta running from July 2 to July 5. Pre-orders also include a Samurai Appa skin and exclusive color variants for six of the main characters.

The closed beta will be a stress test for the proprietary rollback netcode. Crossplay is supported across all platforms, meaning the matchmaking pool will not be fragmented between console and PC players.

I am curious to see how the assist system balances out in high-level play. Giving every character access to three different support options usually leads to some wildly broken combinations in the early days of a fighting game. We will find out how the netcode and the balance hold up when the beta opens in early July.