Fans of the beloved Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series are buzzing! A brand-new pre-alpha trailer for Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game has just dropped, and it looks incredible. However, a few questions linger: what kind of game is this exactly, and who’s bringing it to life?
This game promises an experience “rooted in the spirit of elemental mastery.” Its creators describe it as a fighting game for both new players and seasoned veterans, blending the best of classic titles with innovative approaches to movement, combat style, and character expression. Expect fluid, responsive gameplay with robust online features. The hand-drawn 2D art style is a deliberate choice, aiming to perfectly capture the expressive animation and charm of the original Avatar series.
At launch, players can look forward to a roster of 12 unique characters, with plans for many more to be added through a seasonal content model. You’ll also be able to choose support characters that will dynamically alter your fighting style and unlock special moves. A standout feature is the “Flow System,” which emphasizes movement-centric gameplay, promising a fresh take on the genre. Beyond competitive play, the game will offer a captivating single-player campaign with an original story, extensive combo trials for mastering techniques, a gallery mode, and top-tier netcode with full crossplay support for a seamless online experience. A captivating trailer for Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game was released, showcasing its exciting new direction.
While more exciting features and mechanics are yet to be revealed, and “Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game” is currently a working title, the anticipation is building. Though a specific release date hasn’t been announced, the game is targeting a Summer 2026 launch across major platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam. Don’t forget to wishlist it on Steam to stay updated!
The game’s trailer and Steam page reveal that development and publishing duties are handled by the relatively new Gameplay Group International. A recent article from GamesBeat shed light on this intriguing studio, whose unique business model revolves around bringing canceled games back from the brink.
GamesBeat reported that Gameplay Group International focuses on acquiring and reimagining “commercially unrealized games.” The studio was co-founded by Victor Lugo, a former lead designer on Killer Instinct at Iron Galaxy, and Philip Mayes, who previously served as managing director for Australian game company Mighty Kingdom, known for its portfolio of licensed titles.
Their mission is clear: to identify games with “untapped potential” and give them a “second life.” This involves refining gameplay and delivering polished, high-quality experiences to players globally, essentially resurrecting projects that might otherwise never see the light of day. For a deeper dive into Avatar’s rich history, a slideshow featuring the 10 best episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender is available.
Fittingly, their initial lineup consists entirely of fighting games. Lugo expressed his long-standing frustration with “seeing good games canceled or unable to find their audience.”
Mayes added, “While not all games can be saved, we look for diamonds in the rough and leverage our global network to bring them to completion, creating a win for everyone. Developers get to see their vision realized, and players get to play games they would otherwise have missed.”
This new Avatar Legends fighting game perfectly aligns with Gameplay Group International’s philosophy. The big question is: what happened to it previously? It was quietly canceled last year while under development by the Swedish company Maximum Entertainment, a detail revealed in a financial report. Maximum Entertainment did not respond to queries about the cancellation.
Maximum Entertainment, through its publishing label Modus Games, previously made headlines for abruptly halting development on the 2D fighting game Them’s Fightin’ Herds, which caused significant player backlash. The company has faced a challenging period recently, dealing with financial difficulties, executive departures, and even legal action against former board members.
Notably, some prominent fighting game developers were involved with Maximum Entertainment during the initial development of the Avatar fighting game. This includes Mike Zaimont, known for his role as design director on Skullgirls. Zaimont, who currently serves as design director at Maximum Entertainment, had previously faced accusations of sexual harassment during his time as head of Lab Zero Games. He later worked on Diesel Legacy: The Brazen Age, a 2v2 indie fighter published by Modus Games (the same publisher as Them’s Fightin’ Herds). Interestingly, Gameplay Group International has now taken over publishing responsibilities for both Diesel Legacy and Them’s Fightin’ Herds, in addition to the newly revived Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game.
Ultimately, Gameplay Group International has stepped in to salvage and hopefully make a success of the Avatar fighting game originally under Maximum Entertainment. However, questions about the project’s long-term scope persist. Mayes stated in the GamesBeat article that while GGI currently has two projects underway and can fund them, future endeavors would likely require additional investment. The overriding hope for fans and developers alike is that Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game not only sees the light of day this time but delivers a truly excellent experience.