Quiet Launch, Loud Update for Ubisoft’s Avatar Game

In a recent video, creative director Magnus Jansen detailed these additions, with the first one being a New Game Plus mode. This feature was highly requested among players as it allows them to replay the entire story campaign, facing tougher enemies while retaining all gear and abilities unlocked during their initial playthrough. Crucially, significantly stronger gear tiers were introduced in this mode, while unlocking an entirely new skill tree. With this second feature, returning players are offered substantial new incentives and power progression for their second journey across Pandora.

The other significant addition in Frontiers of Pandora is a fully toggleable third-person perspective, though it originally launched primarily as a first-person experience. At first, viewpoints only switched in the game during specific actions like flying or riding creatures. With this update, however, Ubisoft grants players continuous freedom to choose their camera angle. Whether exploring Pandora’s dense jungles or engaging in combat, players can change their perspective at any moment. Notably, the established first-person viewpoint was praised for being perfectly functional and uniquely compelling.

Particularly, the first-person action scenes, embodying a nine-foot-tall Na’vi, offered a fascinating sense of scale and immersion during exploration and firefights. For some critics, however, the game’s third-person option broadened the game’s appeal. According to Ubisoft, integrating this feature smoothly demanded considerable effort, with Jansen confirming the team is comprehensively “reworking animations, controls, and camera systems to make sure it all feels just right. Given the functional first-person gameplay perspective already present, why did Massive dedicate such substantial resources to this particular enhancement?

Ubisoft’s Unlikely Avatar Update Surprise

Frontiers of Pandora‘s somewhat divisive reception among PC critics led to this new development, with some critics expressing significant reservations in their official reviews. While some reviewers praised the game’s stunning world, they ultimately criticized its technical performance alongside what they described as a jarring, tone-deaf, and awkwardly written. Conversely, others offered a much more favorable assessment, conceding the game’s fundamental resemblance to a certain Far Cry title set on Pandora. This glowing review, comparing the game to one of Ubisoft’s best sandbox games, highlights its strengths despite the familiar framework.