TLA fighting game, one title is under pressure

In February of this year, Maximum Entertainment revealed that it was working on a fighting game set in Avatar: The Last Airbender universe. Originally slated to launch next year in early access, the game has been officially canceled, dashing the hopes of both Avatar and fighting game fans.

It's a bit bizarre that there hasn't been a big-budget, well-received video game adaptation yet Avatar: The Last Airbender. Besides being one of the most popular TV shows of all time, ATLA would be a great fit for a video game, especially since its lore dictates a cyclical, sprawling story. In other words, any adaptation of the source material would have plenty of room to tell its own original story that wasn't tied to the plot elements of either. ATLA or The Legend of Korra. Then there's the bending lore itself, which clearly has a lot of exciting potential for gaming systems across a number of different genres. All of which is to say that it is lamentably unambitious ATLA the game exists in the modern gaming world and that needs to change soon.

The Avatar Legends TTRPG is perfect for fans waiting for Saber Interactive's The Last Airbender Game

It will be quite some time before Saber Interactive releases their Avatar: The Last Airbender game, but in the meantime there is a solid alternative.

Saber Interactive's Avatar: The Last Airbender Game must come true

Saber's Avatar cannot suffer the same fate as Maximum Entertainment

A world-based fighting game Avatar: The Last Airbender is rich in promises. Franchises like Naruto and Demon Slayer showcased what's possible when TV or comic book series with broad characters come together in a fighting game, and ATLA he could join them in this space. Characters from both Avatar and The Legend of Korra could be fully realized in an interactive medium, with interesting and elaborate mechanics designed around their canonical abilities and personalities.

But there is no point in lamenting the past; Maximum Entertainment's fighting game may have been great, but it's back on the shelf for now. More importantly, controlling parties such as Paramount (which owns ATLA rights), don't be bearish about future projects based on this IP. Indeed, the former ATLA games have been strangely reticent, with projects like 2023 Avatar: The Last Airbender – Quest for Balance they are remarkably low-budget and unambitious. Saber Interactive appealed its Avatar game as “the biggest video game in the history of the franchise” and with such certainty it must be delivered.

The Avatar: The Last Airbender RPG may be under more pressure than ever

Sabre's ATLA the game has been described as a AAA RPG – a prospect that should no doubt be exciting for fans of the franchise. But AAA RPGs aren't exactly easy to make, not only because of their inherent narrative and mechanical complexity, but also because of the expectations placed on them by the gaming audience. For better or worse, players will want to Avatar: The Last AirbenderThe first major modern video game to hit the nail on the head, with top-notch gameplay, writing, production value, and more.

These expectations and standards existed before the news about ATLA the fighting game has been cancelled, but now they can get worse. At least with another Avatar game on the market, even if it's in a completely different and more niche genre, a Saber title wouldn't have to be saddled with the weight of just representing the IP in gaming. It is now.

This situation is strangely reminiscent of the opening page Hogwarts heritagelaunch. For years, audiences have been asking for an ambitious and polished play set within the game Harry Potter space—it seemed like nonsense. So there was a lot of riding Hogwarts heritage bringing the franchise into the fast-growing gaming medium. And if this game's sales are anything less, then it's definitely met its goals. Hopefully the same can be said for this one Avatar: The Last Airbender RPG.