With the rich lore and vast world of Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans have been clamouring for years for someone to develop an open-world RPG. Multiple attempts have been made online, but it looks like Paramount is ready to throw some serious money at the project.
According to IGN, Paramount Games and Saber Interactive (World War Z: Aftermath, Ghostbusters: The Video Game Remastered) are teaming up with Avatar Studios to develop an AAA Airbender game that’s set in the world of the Four Nations.
There’s no official gameplay or concept art to look at yet, but the story is said to be focusing on an “all-new, never-before-seen Avatar” who existed thousands of years before the events of the original show. As far as expectations go, the developers said that players can expect “to be immersed in a vibrant world, master all four elements, engage in dynamic combat alongside companions, and experience the challenges and decisions that come with being the keeper of balance in the world.”
So far, the oldest Avatar that fans have already met in the series is Avatar Wan, the first Avatar, who was introduced in The Legend of Korra. There’s probably hundreds (or thousands) of Avatars between Wan and Aang, so it’s likely that they could find someone that exists somewhere in the middle—way before the time of Avatars like Kiyoshi or Avatar Yangchen.
Paramount’s Doug Rosen said, “We know loyal fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender have been eager for more stories that bring them into the universe of the show, and through gaming, we’re able to expand the world-building and allow fans to experience the new content in a completely immersive way… Saber Interactive has a proven track record in bringing IP-based games to life, and we are excited to co-fund this AAA title alongside them and let fans experience this world first-hand.”
No release date has been announced for the game, but fingers are crossed we could get a first look sometime around next year. Hopefully they’ll be ready to release it in two years—lining it up with the hype of the live-action Netflix show.
