AVATAR LEGENDS: The Fighting Game is now available as a purchase for the exA-Arcadia system, giving arcade operators access to the Nickelodeon-inspired fighter before its home-console and PC releases.
A 1v1 Avatar fighter for arcades
Drawing from both Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, the game centres on one-on-one battles featuring familiar characters including Aang, Korra, Zuko and Katara. The starting roster contains 12 fighters, with five additional characters planned for Year One DLC. Those extra characters are expected to be integrated into the exA version later.
Per the game page, each fighter can be paired with three support characters. These choices affect play styles and unlock different strategic and special-move options during matches.
The combat system, called “flow”, focuses on movement, positioning and momentum. Players can use it to evade or parry attacks, maintain pressure and express themselves through offensive play.
The arcade edition was announced on 18 March and has already undergone testing in Japan. A near-complete version was also playable at EVO 2026 in Las Vegas, where it saw long lines of interested players.
Controls and combat
AVATAR LEGENDS uses four buttons. Light, medium and heavy attacks change depending on whether the character is standing, airborne or crouching, while the fourth button is assigned to the flow mechanic. Each character has an individual move set, including attacks that are unique to that fighter.
What the exA-Arcadia version includes
The shop page for buying a kit is now live. The exA release offers Story, Arcade and Training modes, along with the platform’s low input lag. In practical terms, that is intended to make the game feel more responsive than the console versions, which are not due to launch until later in July 2026.
The exA edition runs at 60 frames per second and supports the same character and stage roster as the other versions. All costumes are selectable. Most exA systems operate at 1080p, although some cabinets use 4K monitors. Future character updates will require operators to send their cartridges in for updating.
The software is supplied as a physical kit containing the game cartridge, an A1 poster, mini-posters, move-set cards and an ARC-32 marquee. It is priced in line with the company’s other fighting-game releases at approximately $1,700 plus shipping.
Japanese sellers were among the first to promote the release, before it appeared on exA-Arcadia’s international shop. Japanese sellers began promoting it.
The game is shown running in an exA ARC-32 cabinet, but it is designed to work with other compatible arcade cabinets as well. Operators considering a new setup can compare arcade machines in our buying guide or browse arcade machines for broader cabinet options.
exA-Arcadia has indicated that it has substantial marketing plans for this release. It is also expected to follow with titles including G.I. Joe: The Wrath of Cobra and Invincible VS within the next month or two. The release schedule has been affected in part by sharply rising prices for some electronic components, while a backlog of previously announced games remains to be worked through.
IAAPA 2026 booth layout raises concerns
Separately, exA-Arcadia has moved its IAAPA 2026 booth from the West Hall to the main hall. The event is scheduled for November, and the company is currently listed in the Family Entertainment pavilion in the north-eastern section rather than the Games & Arcade Pavilion. The map may still change.
The wider concern is that IAAPA’s current layout appears to scatter related exhibitors across the show. The Games & Arcade Pavilion would normally be the obvious place to find arcade-game companies, yet the map shown on 11 July 2026 places many theme-park and water-park businesses in that area. Some arcade-focused companies, including LAI Games, Zooom, Wahlap, Adrenaline, JET and UNIS, are clustered together, but the pavilion labels offer less guidance than expected.
IAAPA is already a large and demanding event, and the addition of the West building will make navigation more difficult. Exhibitors located there are concerned that the area may receive less foot traffic because it is out of the way. The Orange County Convention Center cannot simply expand its existing space, however, and more companies than ever want to exhibit.
Why discovery needs more than a shuffled map
Mixing unrelated businesses can encourage accidental discoveries in a retail environment, but a trade show has different priorities. Buyers often have limited time, defined budgets and specific appointments. Someone searching for an arcade-game manufacturer is unlikely to become a waterslide or spherical-theatre buyer simply because those booths happen to be nearby.
The scattered arrangement has caused problems at previous events. Smaller companies can be overlooked when they are placed away from relevant exhibitors. Unico USA was difficult to locate last year and had also been hard to find in earlier years. An independent arcade exhibitor at IAAPA 2024 was similarly tucked away from the main arcade area, with awkward aisle numbering making the search even slower.
IAAPA has tried other ways to encourage exploration. Last year’s opening ceremony was held on the north side of the show, while a scavenger hunt called The Game Of Life was used to draw visitors through different areas. The scavenger hunt was regarded as an effective discovery tool, although moving the opening ceremony away from the usual Games & Arcade area made the start of the event feel slower for some attendees.
A more practical approach would be to keep exhibitors grouped according to their main product or service, then use events, prizes and app features to encourage visitors to explore beyond their primary interests. Awards, hosted events, scavenger hunts and hourly showcases featuring one exhibitor from each pavilion could all help smaller companies gain attention without making essential suppliers difficult to locate.
Exhibitors also need to provide useful directions rather than posting only a booth number. Even so, clear industry clusters would reduce confusion, wasted walking time and missed meetings for both buyers and sellers.
For Australian operators following the release, AVATAR LEGENDS: The Fighting Game is another notable addition to the exA-Arcadia catalogue. Those planning a home setup can also explore upright arcades or compact bartop arcades for different space requirements.
Would you like to see AVATAR LEGENDS: The Fighting Game on an exA-Arcadia cabinet in an Australian arcade?
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