Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora release date, platforms, gameplay and more

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora screenshot
(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is an upcoming video game from Ubisoft-owned developer Massive Entertainment, and it will allow players to explore the world of Avatar like never before. 

Announced back at E3 2021 with a slick reveal trailer, we then went several years without any further updates. However, the highly-anticipated game has recently been showcased at the Ubisoft Forward 2023 event giving us a slew of fresh details. Plus, we now have a firm release date as well as news on platforms and what editions of the game will be available at launch. 

So, if you can’t wait to venture to Pandora and liberate the picturesque planet from invading forces as a blue-skinned Navi, then here’s everything you need to know about Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. 

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora release date and platforms 

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora screenshot

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is set to launch on Thursday, December 7, 2023. The game will be released on PS5, Xbox Series X (and Xbox Series S), PC and Amazon Luna. There will not be a PS4 or Xbox One version, it will only be available on current-gen hardware.  

Its December release date will make it one of the final blockbuster games of 2023. Hopefully, it’ll serve as a strong end to what is shaping up to be one of the best years for new gaming releases in a very long time. 

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora trailers 

Multiple trailers for Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora have been released since its initial announcement in the summer of 2021. You can watch the reveal trailer below which sets out the core pillar of the game — a vast open-world Pandora — and also teases a 2022 release date which would later be revised to 2023.  

The most recent trailer for Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora came during Ubisoft Forward 2023. It includes gameplay, but most importantly, it sets up the story and characters.

This three-minute trailer confirms that the game is set in the “never-before-seen Western Frontier of Pandora” and that we’ll play as a Na’vi who was raised by the RDA but who now must join other clans in order to protect the planet from the destructive humans that raised them.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora gameplay 

Described as a “first-person action-adventure game” in the official gameplay overview trailer below, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora will allow you to explore the world of James Cameron’s Avatar franchise like never before. 

You will play as a Na’vi, the race of humanoid creatures native to Pandora. Your naturally heightened agility and speed give you an edge in combat, and because you were raised by the human-led RDA you’ll able to use firearms and explosives alongside more traditional Na’vi weaponry like a bow and arrow. If you prefer, you can also take a more stealthy approach to get the drop on your enemies. 

There’s definitely a whiff of Far Cry about this game. Similar to that popular Ubisoft-developed franchise, Frontiers of Pandora will also pack a large open world for you to explore either on foot or using vehicles/mounts. The game’s map will be full of missions, collectibles and points of interest, and expect to liberate plenty of RDA structures in order to free your captured Na’vi friends. 

Avatar Frontiers of Pandora screenshot

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

This western-located slice of Pandora is comprised of multiple unique regions, from a luscious rainforest to rocky mountains. And you’ll be able to move through the open world even quicker if you take the time to bond with your very own flying companion. Be sure to feed and care for them in order to nurture your “neural connection”. 

The core focus of the game will be liberating Pandora from the RDA forces, so expect plenty of intense firefights, and as this is a Ubisoft game, you might even have to climb a few radio towers to survey your surroundings. 

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora pre-order 

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora pre-orders are now live, and you can reserve your copy at various retailers including Amazon, Best Buy and GameStop. Furthermore, Ubisoft has confirmed that Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora will be released in multiple editions.

Avatar Frontiers of Pandora pre order spreadsheet

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

The Standard Edition gets you just the base game, whereas the next tier up is the Gold Edition which comes with the full game and the Season Pass, giving you access to two post-launch story expansions and an extra quest on launch day. Finally, there’s the Ultimate Edition which comes with the game, season pass, a digital artbook and the aptly named Ultimate Pack, which includes various cosmetic items. 

Superfans may want to consider the Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora Collector’s Edition. This hefty edition retails for an eyewatering $229 and includes a 35cm statue of the game’s protagonist, a 128-page physical artbook, a field notebook, a blueprint, three lithographs, a steelbook case, a certificate of authenticity and the Ultimate Edtion of the game. The Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora Collector's Edition is available to pre-order now at GameStop

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora Outlook 

Avatar Frontiers of Pandora screenshot

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

There’s a lot to be excited about with Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. The chance to explore the leafy planet from the movies is an extremely appealing one, and we’re optimistic that the story will introduce us to a whole new cast of compelling Na’vi characters. 

However, the gameplay does look a little too close to Far Cry for our liking. This could be a problem as the open-world shooter’s formal has become increasingly stale in recent years, but fingers crossed that the unique world of Avatar will be enough to counteract any staleness in the gameplay department. Plus, even if the mission objectives end up being a little routine, the visuals look utterly stunning! 

Rory Mellon
Entertainment Editor (UK)

Rory is an Entertainment Editor at Tom’s Guide based in the UK. He covers a wide range of topics but with a particular focus on gaming and streaming. When he’s not reviewing the latest games, searching for hidden gems on Netflix, or writing hot takes on new gaming hardware, TV shows and movies, he can be found attending music festivals and getting far too emotionally invested in his favorite football team.