It seems anything related to video game adaptations of Avatar is destined to be cursed. While Saber Interactive is currently working on a ‘AAA RPG’ set in the beloved universe, another project has quietly bitten the dust. Maximum Entertainment revealed via its latest financial report that it had canceled several game developments, including an Avatar: The Last Airbender competitive fighting game. The company is the publisher of Hammerwatch, Wild Bastards, and Squirrel With a Gun.
Earlier this year in February, CEO Christina Seelye teased that the company partnered with Paramount to work on an Avatar: The Last Airbender fighting game project. Aside from saying that the early access was expected to launch sometime in 2025, details about platforms or developers were extremely scarce. Speculation around the project quickly gained traction all over the internet.
Notable fighting game player SonicFox hinted on social media posts that the game could be a 2D fighter and ‘involve a former Skullgirls developer.’ This wasn’t far-fetched, as Maximum Entertainment had acquired Mane6, the team behind Them’s Fightin’ Herds, back in 2022, fueling rumors of their involvement.
Fast forward to now after radio silence, and hopes for the game have been dashed. According to Maximum Entertainment’s latest financial report, the Avatar: The Last Airbender fighting game has been officially scrapped. Nestled within report jargon, the document confirmed a $947 million write-down, which includes three canceled projects: Mudfest, Project Velos, and the untitled Avatar game.
Maximum Entertainment suggested that the project did not meet the company’s financial viability standards. The cancellation marks a significant blow for fans who had dreamed of controlling their favorite Benders in an all-out brawl. Especially considering so far all Avatar game adaptations have been huge disappointments.
Avatar: The Last Airbender’s elemental-bending powers and huge cast of characters seemed like a no-brainer for a fighting game — or a video game in general. However, no one seems to be able to deliver a satisfying experience, even to this day. Let’s hope Saber Interactive’s ambitious attempt at tackling this universe won’t end up full of hot air.
