 |
| Ubisoft |
Flashspoter - Ahead of the release of the latest film by James Cameron, Avatar: Fire and Ash, the game Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is getting a lot of attention. Instead of a big screen highlight, this time the game version saw a significant update. Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment have released a free third-person mode that the community has been asking for a long time, simultaneously setting the stage for a new story expansion titled From the Ashes. The two updates make it very clear that the game is not only a spin-off but also one of the main pillars of the Avatar franchise.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora was released in 2023 as a first-person only game for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. One main highlight of this gaming style was allowing players to get really immersed and feel that they become one with the world of Pandora or get into the shoes literally of a Navi character. However, Ubisoft has listened to the gamers a lot and they decided that the people who have been asking for a third-person view are the majority, so the player gets to see the Na'vi fully and at the same time enjoy the animation and environmental details from a new perspective.
The Third-person Mode is up and running now as a free update to the game. It is as easy as a single button press and players can hold it to switch between first-person and third-person at will without the need to restart the game. From a feature point, this function goes beyond just changing the camera angle. Massive Entertainment made extensive adjustments, from character animations, camera systems, controls, to how stealth and traversal work. The whole system should feel natural both viewed up close and from a wider distance.
This update also shows how far Ubisoft wants to extend the life of the game. Since its initial release, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora has received various quality-of-life improvements, such as an updated Hunter's Guide, an undiscovered item filter, a rebalancing of the combat system, as well as the option of a more stable 40 FPS performance mode. Third-person Mode becomes a logical continuation of the community-based approach.
In addition to the change of perspective, Ubisoft also added The New Game+feature. This Mode allows players to repeat the main story by bringing inventory and abilities from previous playthroughs. The challenge is made higher through stronger enemies, but is offset by new skill trees and more powerful gear. When it comes to the New Game+ mode, the map is unlocked completely right from the beginning, thus the player can explore without any story progression limits. This feature is exclusive to the main game and is not extended to any of the DLC packs.
The Momentum of this update coincides with the launch of the from the Ashes story expansion. The DLC is scheduled for release on December 19, along with the release of Avatar: Fire and Ash in theaters. The expansion's story focuses on so'lek, a Na'vi character with a darker background and a much more mature combat experience than the base game's main protagonist. He awakens in the Ravaged Kinglor Forest, with the Sarentu family scattered and a new threat from the Ash Clan and the RDA.
From the design side, From the Ashes utilizes third-person mode as the default approach. This allows developers to highlight the differences in so'lek characters through body language, fighting styles, as well as visual interaction with the environment. Technically, it also allows Massive Entertainment to come up with new animations and add to the gameplay systems they had already developed for the first-person perspective.
Overall, Ubisoft's decision shows a far-sighted plan and devotion to the game, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. The game was greeted with mainly lukewarm reactions from the audience on its release day, however, it slowly evolved into a hidden gem with a devoted fan base thanks to regular updates and content support The tight connection between games and films is another point showing that the Avatar franchise is becoming more and more a cross-media experience brand, thus not depending solely on the box office revenue.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora has become a lot more versatile with a third-person mode, New Game+, and a new story expansion. For seasoned players, this is an excellent excuse to go back to exploring Pandora. While for new players, the game comes in a more mature condition, rich in features, and in tune with the world of Avatar that is constantly evolving.
Source Wired, Polygon, Ubisoft Official Release
Post a Comment