Disney teamed up with Archosaur Games, Tencent, and Lightstorm Entertainment for Avatar: Reckoning, a new mobile MMO set to release on an unspecified date this year. This counts as just one of two Avatar games currently in development, the other being Massive Entertainment's Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. The first-person action-adventure title from The Division studio has been in development for quite a while, but publisher Ubisoft showed off the project for the first time E3 2021.
Based on the universe established in James Cameron's Avatar, which originally hit theaters in December 2009, Frontiers of Pandora will offer a standalone experience separate from its big-screen counterpart. Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment have, thus far, kept more than a few cards close to their chests about the title; however, players can expect an open-world experience built on the Snowdrop Engine. The companies previously confirmed plans to skip releases on PS4 and Xbox One as well, meaning Frontiers of Pandora is exclusively launching on PC and new-gen consoles. When the open-world adventure will finally hit stores remains a mystery. Yet, Avatar faithful can jump into another Pandora-set project before this year's end.
Today, January 13, Disney announced Avatar: Reckoning, a mobile MMORPG made in conjunction with Archosaur Games, Tencent, and Lightstorm Entertainment. Designed on Unreal Engine 4 for Android and iOS, Avatar: Reckoning will allow users to create their own Avatars and venture across "never-before-seen parts of Pandora." The game itself will boast three game modes - single-player, co-op, and PvP - all of which factor into larger facets of the MMO. For one, players will come into contact with new Na’vi clans defending their home. Plus, RDA forces attempting to mine the moon's resources should pose quite the formidable threat. Those who explore Avatar: Reckoning are also bound to come across "spectacular alien creatures," the companies teased in a press release. The MMO presently lacks a firm due date but developer Archosaur Games and global publisher Level Infinite plan to launch Reckoning by the end of 2022.
Apart from the key art featured above, the public remains in the dark in terms of Avatar: Reckoning's visuals. In true Avatar fashion, though, the Pandora rendered by Archosaur Games will likely prove appealing to the eye, courtesy of the franchise's stunning use of color.
Since three more Avatar films are scheduled to hit theaters in the coming years, one of which arrives this December, reason suggests additional game adaptations will eventually see the light of day, too. The success of Ubisoft's Frontiers of Pandora could prove a deciding factor in this regard, though.
Avatar: Reckoning comes to Android and iOS mobile devices on an unspecified date in 2022.