Get out of the way, Jim. It’s finally time for Avatar: The Last Airbender to shine. The world of Nickelodeon’s Avatar is finally getting an honest-to-God AAA title. An RPG title, no less. And that’s not even the best bit. The development will be headed by Paramount Game Studios and, more importantly, Saber Interactive. You know, the guys who recently pumped out Warhammer: Space Marine 2?
Oh my God, okay it’s happening
That’s according to IGN, which got the scoop from the developers – who are, incidentally, in “close collaboration” with Avatar Studios, the division run up by the show’s original creators Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. The companies call it “the biggest video game in franchise history.” Yeah, we’ll believe that when we see it. As long as it doesn’t feature blue people roaming around with horses, we’re on board.
Rather than resurrecting the Gaang for yet another retelling of the iconic story (we’re looking at you, Netflix) or whatever the hell Generations is, this RPG-ified Avatar will instead stick players into the shoes of an “all-new, never-before-seen Avatar,” taking place thousands of years before the original story. Huh. We were wrong. This is the best bit.
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You’ll be doing all the usual Avatar stuff on the journey; mastering the four elements, tackling a “vibrant world”, taking down foes for the fun of it, and experiencing “the challenges and decisions that come with being the keeper of balance in the world.” It’s still a mystery whether this will be an open-world adventure, something the lore would fully embrace, or a tighter, close-knit escapade. Either way, we’re happy.
“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,” said Doug Rosen, SVP, Games and Emerging Media at Paramount. “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.”