The upcoming Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game has experienced significant launch day issues, with the Xbox version of the game being delayed by over a month. Developers announced the delay less than 24 hours before the game's originally scheduled release on Xbox and Nintendo Switch platforms. The Xbox version is now slated to launch on September 3rd due to "unforeseen circumstances on a backend feature," according to PM Studios. Players who pre-ordered the game on Xbox will need to manually cancel their pre-orders if they wish to do so, as they will not be automatically canceled.
While the Xbox version faces a delay, the Nintendo Switch version is launching as planned today, but with notable limitations. Only the standard edition of the game will be available on Switch at launch. The deluxe edition, which is accessible on PC, PlayStation, and eventually Xbox, will not be available for Switch players initially. Furthermore, the Nintendo Switch version will not include cross-play functionality with other platforms or support for languages other than English at launch. The development team has stated their commitment to bringing these features and the deluxe edition to Switch players as soon as possible and will provide updates on their progress.
The news has been met with frustration from the community. Many Xbox players expressed their disappointment with the last-minute announcement, citing the inconvenience of the delay and the lack of timely communication. Some players had even taken time off work in anticipation of the release, only to find out about the postponement on the eve of launch. This situation is particularly unfortunate given that the game received positive reception during its recent open beta.
The staggered launch and feature limitations for the Nintendo Switch version, coupled with the significant delay for Xbox players, cast a shadow over the game's debut. This rocky start occurs just as the open beta for Marvel Tokon is set to begin, potentially drawing attention away from Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game.