When was the Avatar Frontiers of Pandora release date? Ubisoft’s Avatar game looks to piggyback off of the success of the long-awaited second Avatar movie. However, it sets itself apart from what we’ve seen of the universe before with a whole new area to explore. Plus, who could say no to flying around such a beautiful location on a Mountain Banshee?
Ubisoft actually announced Avatar Frontiers of Pandora all the way back in 2017, before being properly showcased during an Ubisoft Forward livestream in 2021. It missed its original release window of 2022, but finally arrived in 2023’s lineup of new PS5 games and new Xbox games. Despite many hoping it’d be one of the best open world games ever, it didn’t really live up to the hype with anyone who wasn’t an existing Avatar fans. Here’s all the main info about the game you need to know.
Avatar Frontiers Of Pandora release date
The Avatar Frontiers of Pandora release date was Thursday, December 7, 2023. This final release date was revealed at the Ubisoft Forward 2023 showcase.
The game released on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Originally the game was set to hit shelves in 2022, in order to line up with the release of the Avatar: The Way of Water movie. However, Ubisoft delayed the game, simply saying that it will be “coming soon”.
In June 2023, we got a fresh look at the game during an Ubisoft Forward presentation, along with news of that revised release date of December 7.
Though the Avatar franchise as a whole is certainly no stranger to delays (the Avatar 2 movie was originally supposed to release in 2014, then 2020, before finally launching in December 2022) the delay of Avatar Frontiers of Pandora was to work on polishing the experience. The long delay did mean it was in a very strong state, performance-wise, when it did eventually come out.
Avatar Frontiers of Pandora gameplay
Interestingly, Avatar Frontiers of Pandora is a first-person open-world action adventure – many thought it’d be a third-person game considering the size of many of the animals and structures you’ll come across. Nevertheless, this perspective makes Avatar Frontiers of Pandora an incredibly immersive game. Fans of the films will no doubt find a lot to love by simply walking through the world, especially as there’s a whole new region at your fingertips – the Western Frontier.
You can wield a variety of different weapons, from the Na’vi’s traditional bow, to high-powered rocket launchers and assault rifles. And with the RDA returning to Pandora in full-force, you’ll have no shortage of enemies to use this firepower on, including RDA mechs, helicopters, and standard foot soldiers.
Alongside this action, Avatar Frontiers of Pandora also features high mobility, from climbing vines to jumping on large leaves to bounce long distances, and even flying on the Na’vi’s iconic flying mounts known as Mountain Banshees. Furthermore, you can even customize your banshee after you’ve bonded with it and engage with the RDA in aerial combat.
By harvesting materials found around the world, you can craft, upgrade gear and cook food to improve your character as you journey through Pandora. In many ways, this is similar to the core gameplay loop of Ubisoft’s iconic Far Cry series, which also sees you scavenging for materials to craft and upgrade gear. Given how well this has worked in Far Cry, we expect it will be just as well implemented in Avatar Frontiers of Pandora.
Avatar Frontiers of Pandora story
Avatar Frontiers of Pandora tells a completely new standalone story where you play as a Na’vi and “embark on a journey across the Western Frontier”, which is a never-before-seen section of Pandora. The game takes place during the events of the second film, Avatar The Way of Water, with the RDA having returned to Pandora after many years.
Having been abducted by the RDA and trained to fit their needs, you begin the game as an outsider, despite being a Na’vi. Fifteen years later, you are free. As you progress through the game, you will learn more about the culture of the Na’vi as you grow closer to your allies.
New characters will populate the Western Frontier and you will need to push back the formidable RDA forces to protect the ecosystem and creatures.
Avatar Frontiers of Pandora reception
The reception to Avatar Frontiers of Pandora has been mixed. It’s been largely positive from fans of the franchise, with the stunning visuals and rich sounds leading to an immersive world that’s been highly praised.
However, with the critics it was merely deemed an ‘ok’ game across the board, with a Metacritic average of 72 on PS5 and PC and 75 on Xbox. The game also released with minimal marketing, and its retail price was almost instantly dropped after launch, suggesting it has been underperforming commercially.
That covers everything you need to know about Ubisoft’s open-world Avatar game, including the Avatar Frontiers of Pandora release date. While it didn’t quite stick the landing as one of 2023’s best new Xbox games and new PS5 games, it’s definitely worth picking up and playing if you find it cheap in a sale. You can also find out where to watch Avatar 2 if you’re yet to check out the latest movie.