Is Avatar 3 Fire and Ash Getting a Video Game Tie-In?
Fans of the Avatar movies have wondered if the third film, Avatar: Fire and Ash, would connect to video games. The answer is yes. Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment released a new expansion called From the Ashes for Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. This DLC ties directly into the movie’s story and events. It came out around the same time as the film, which hit cinemas on December 19. You can read more details in this interview with the developers.
The expansion lets players dive into the darker side of Pandora shown in Fire and Ash. You play as So’lek, a Na’vi warrior whose clan faced big losses before. The story happens roughly at the same time as the movie or just weeks after. It shows the RDA teaming up with the Ash clan, also called the Mangkwan or Mangkwang in some reports. They invade the Kinglor Forest, burning parts of it and setting up bases to take resources. Players fight these new enemies, including fire-worshipping Na’vi and RDA forces. The forest changes as you play, with more fire and ash spreading across the land. Developers worked closely with James Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment to make sure the game fits the movie’s lore. For example, events like the RDA-Ash alliance form in the film, and the game shows what happens next. Check out this preview for how it plays.
From the Ashes adds a 25-hour campaign in a new region. It introduces creatures like the Hellhound from Avatar comics. The story focuses on revenge and resistance, with So’lek facing three warband chiefs he knows from his past. This makes it feel like a true companion to the movie. You can explore details the film skips due to time limits. One developer said they timed it this way to match the franchise’s shift to tougher themes. See this article on the expansion’s links to Fire and Ash.
A big bonus is the free third-person mode update for the whole game. You can switch between first-person and third-person anytime. It improves combat, exploration, and cutscenes, making everything more cinematic. This fits the movie’s style perfectly. After watching Fire and Ash, players can jump into the game to keep fighting the same threats. This piece calls it a smart movie-game tie-in.
Videos show the new gameplay too. One short clip hypes the DLC drop with movie comparisons. Another from IGN plays the opening in third-person ahead of the film’s release. Watch this short and this gameplay video.
This tie-in revives interest in the 2023 game, blending movie and game worlds seamlessly.
Sources
https://www.pushsquare.com/features/interview-we-wanted-to-tell-a-different-kind-of-story-why-now-was-the-time-to-tie-avatar-movies-into-the-game
https://www.pushsquare.com/previews/avatar-ps5-is-transformed-in-third-person-expanded-in-from-the-ashes-dlc
https://bluntmag.com.au/gaming/everything-we-know-about-avatar-frontiers-of-pandora-new-expansion-from-the-ashes/
https://www.inverse.com/gaming/avatar-frontiers-of-pandora-no-mans-sky-comeback-time-to-play
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/dYarnZ8M7rY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hm1SoBcgzik
