Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game is four days out — July 23, 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam — and the final marketing beat landed July 18 with Zaheer's gameplay trailer. His Red Lotus allies do not stand on the sidelines: Ghazan, Ming-Hua, and P'Li step into the fight as active combat assists, turning 1v1 matches into something closer to a tag-team brawler than anything else on the 12-character launch roster.
bunpav's take: after a June delay pushed the game from July 2 to July 23, this is the "roster locked, netcode ready, pre-order now" sprint. At $29.99, it undercuts most AAA fighters and ships the same week as Marvel Tōkon's open beta — fighting-game month on console and PC is suddenly crowded.
TL;DR — what people are actually asking
| Question | Direct answer |
|---|---|
| Release date? | July 23, 2026 — PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam. |
| Price? | $29.99 Standard / $49.99 Deluxe. |
| Full roster? | 12 fighters — ATLA + Korra cast, including Avatar State variants. |
| Zaheer's gimmick? | Active Red Lotus assists in combat. |
| Cross-play? | Yes — rollback netcode at launch. |
| Switch version? | Later — Switch 1 and 2 after multiplatform launch. |
What's launching on July 23?
Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game is a hand-drawn 2D 1v1 fighter from Gameplay Group International, published with PM Studios and Skydance Games, developed in cooperation with Avatar Studios and Paramount.
Steam's description:
"Featuring hand-drawn 2D animation faithful to the series' roots, Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game lets you experience the world of Avatar Legends like never before."
Modes at launch include offline/online versus, story, arcade, training, spectator, and an art gallery. Proprietary rollback netcode and full cross-play across PS5, Xbox, and PC are confirmed on the store page.
The locked 12-character roster
| Fighter | Series | Notable supports |
|---|---|---|
| Aang | ATLA | Gyatso, Appa, Momo |
| Korra | Korra | Naga, Raava, Tonraq |
| Zuko | ATLA | Mai, June, Ran and Shaw |
| Katara | ATLA | Kanna, Pakku, Hakoda |
| Toph | ATLA | The Boulder, Badgermole, The Hippo |
| Sokka | ATLA | Suki, Piandao, Yue |
| Azula | ATLA | Li and Lo, Joo Dee, Ursa |
| Kyoshi | ATLA | Rangi, Kelsang, Yun |
| Zaheer | Korra | Red Lotus active assists |
| Fire Lord Ozai | ATLA | Supports TBD in materials |
| Avatar State Aang | ATLA | Variant |
| Nightmare Korra | Korra | Variant |
Five additional characters are planned in year one post-launch, per franchise wiki sourcing from official announcements.
Why does Zaheer's trailer matter?
The July 18 reveal (IGN trailer coverage) shows Zaheer as a free-flight airbender with mix-up heavy air attacks — but the headline mechanic is team-style assists. Red Lotus members enter the screen as active combat participants, not static assist cut-ins.
That differentiates Avatar Legends from stock anime fighters where supports are cosmetic. Zaheer is the proof-of-concept for how the game handles Legend of Korra characters differently from ATLA traditionalists like Aang.
What happened to the July 2 date?
On June 3, 2026, Gameplay Group posted that the game needed more time:
"We're taking a little extra time to cook up an exceptional Avatar adventure, including brand new content previously unplanned!"
The new date: July 23. A cross-play-supported beta ran July 2–5 for pre-orders on PS5, Xbox, and Steam — so early buyers already sampled netcode before the public launch window.
What's happening July 20?
Before launch, Maximilian Dood hosts a stream July 20 at 4 PM PT / 7 PM ET previewing the final three roster reveals — Fire Lord Ozai, Avatar State Aang, and Nightmare Korra — plus a full Zaheer breakdown and "a few surprises," per official social channels cited in TechTimes' July 18 coverage.
If you are pre-ordering based on roster completeness, wait for that stream or the July 23 launch reviews.
Platform and edition breakdown
| Platform | July 23 launch? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PS5 | Yes | Pre-purchase live |
| Xbox Series X|S | Yes | Pre-purchase live |
| Steam (PC) | Yes | Pre-purchase live |
| Nintendo Switch | No | Digital later |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | No | Digital + physical later |
| Physical editions | No | PM Studios physical "later this year" |
Standard: $29.99. Deluxe: $49.99. At that price it sits closer to indie party racers like Backseat Champions' demo ecosystem than to $70 AAA — but the rollback netcode and cross-play pitch target the competitive FGC, not casual couch play only.
What should Avatar fans do this week?
- Pre-purchase or wishlist on your platform if the roster sells you — Steam page.
- Watch Maximilian's July 20 stream for Ozai and Avatar State variants before buying blind.
- Plan for cross-play — PC vs console lobbies work day one; coordinate with friends on different hardware.
- Do not expect Switch on July 23 — if handheld is your only platform, wait for the later port announcement.
- If you want another fighter this week, Marvel Tōkon's open beta starts July 24 — try both before committing.
Related reading
- Marvel Tōkon open beta — July 24 schedule, roster, and cross-play
- Marvel's Wolverine Ain't No Hero trailer — September 15 PS5 launch
- Top 10 friendslop games in 2026
- Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game on Steam
- IGN: Official Zaheer reveal trailer
Release date, pricing, and roster details are accurate as of publication (July 19, 2026). Deluxe Edition contents and Switch timing may update — verify on store pages before purchase.