It’s the announcement Avatar fans have been dreaming of for years. During a surprise panel at New York Comic Con 2025, it was officially revealed that a dedicated 1-v-1 fighting game set in the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra is in development. Currently under the working title ‘Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game,’ the project is being helmed by Gameplay Group International, a developer with a solid track record in the fighting game community. With a targeted release window of Summer 2026, the wait for a proper bender battle is finally coming to an end.
A Game Built by Fighting Game Fans, for Avatar Fans
What makes this announcement so exciting is the team behind it. Gameplay Group International is known for its work on indie fighting game darlings like ‘Them’s Fightin’ Herds’ and ‘Diesel Legacy.’ They are a studio that deeply understands the genre, with a focus on fluidity, responsive controls, and excellent online play. In their announcement, they promised to bring the ‘energy of classic fighting games’ while also ‘breaking new ground in movement, style, and combat expression.’
The pre-alpha footage shown in the reveal trailer gives us a glimpse of this vision. The game features a beautiful, hand-drawn 2D art style that perfectly captures the expressive animation of the original series. We see characters like Aang, Zuko, Toph, and Korra in action, and the bending looks as fluid and powerful as you’d hope.
More Than Just a Fighting Game
While the core of the experience will be 1-v-1 battles, ‘Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game’ is promising a robust package for all types of players. Here are some of the key features announced:
- A Starting Roster of 12 Characters: The game will launch with 12 playable fighters from across the Avatar universe, with more to be added through a seasonal model.
- The Flow System: This is a unique gameplay mechanic designed to emphasize movement and creative combos, allowing players to truly feel like a bending master.
- Support Characters: Similar to an ‘assist’ system in other fighting games, players can choose support characters to call in for special moves.
- A Full Single-Player Campaign: For those who love the world and lore, the game will feature a completely original single-player story.
- Best-in-Class Online Play: The developers have confirmed rollback netcode and full crossplay support across all platforms, which is fantastic news for the competitive community.
Your Questions About the Avatar Fighting Game (FAQs)
- When is the release date? Summer 2026.
- What platforms will it be on? PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam.
- Who is making the game? Gameplay Group International, in partnership with Paramount.
- Which characters are confirmed? The trailer and announcements have confirmed Aang, Korra, Zuko, Toph, Katara, and Sokka will be part of the roster.
- Is this the only new Avatar content coming? No! A new series of animated chibi-style shorts will also be launching on YouTube, and the first film from Avatar Studios is slated for an October 2026 release.
- Is ‘Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game’ the final title? No, it is a working title and may change before release.
Conclusion
For years, the Avatar community has been asking for a fighting game that does justice to the incredible action and artistry of the series. ‘Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game’ looks like it might finally be the answer. With a passionate and experienced developer at the helm, a commitment to quality features like rollback netcode and crossplay, and a beautiful art style that honors the source material, this is one of the most exciting announcements to come out of NYCC. The Summer 2026 release date feels far away, but for a game that fans have wanted for nearly two decades, the wait will surely be worth it.