Frontiers of Pandora Releases Second Major Story DLC

The "Secrets of the Spires" DLC for "Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora" is finally here for Season Pass holders, bringing with it a batch of fresh achievements, a newly unveiled map, an engaging storyline, and much more. With today’s release, we might be reaching a pivotal point in post-launch content for the game, and it’ll be intriguing to see if this addition helps cement its place among the best open-world games available on Xbox.

"Secrets of the Spires" has hit the shelves following a brief delay, marking the second story installment accessible to Season Pass owners. It introduces five new achievements for Xbox players and requires about 17.5GB of space on the Xbox Series X|S. Key highlights include the new map area, the Spires of the Clouded Forest, alongside fresh skills and gear, and an exciting storyline. Although it builds upon the main narrative, you can dive directly into this DLC without revisiting the main story if you prefer.

Ubisoft describes the Spires of the Clouded Forest as a breathtaking mountainous region on Pandora’s Western Frontier, inviting players to relish in epic aerial skirmishes and explore an untamed open world designed to amplify flying experiences with your ikran. "Sabotage RDA aerial maneuvers using new ikran skills and an innovative mounted weapon," says Ubisoft. "Join a hidden Na’vi clan in their struggle against a fresh RDA menace, while navigating the towering landscape filled with canyons and caverns concealing unforeseen threats."

The DLC brings along several additions, including side quests, new activities, and biomes such as the Tangled Peaks and Warrior’s Rise. You’ll also deepen the connection with your ikran, unlocking skills like Ikran Smash and Flares to fend off new aerial dangers while exploring Pandora’s diverse flora and fauna.

Let’s delve into some of the updates and enhancements as detailed in the patch notes:

Progression Updates: Available on all platforms, skill points can now be spent to unlock and refine new skills for your ikran. Meanwhile, if you’re playing on the PlayStation 5 Pro, you’re in for a treat with the 60 FPS Quality Mode providing smoother gameplay and slightly amped-up resolution. Plus, the integration of PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) aids in delivering better visuals and performance.

Known Issues: The PC version is grappling with some glitches on Windows 11, which Ubisoft is actively addressing. On the PS5, the menu narration sometimes skips the "Additional Info" sections, and on all platforms, a few quests face progression snags or incorrect warnings. If you’re using Xbox or PS5, occasional resets of settings post rest mode have been reported. Moreover, everywhere, players encounter missing icons, slow map loads, and other minor hiccups Ubisoft plans to fix.

As for what lies ahead, Ubisoft remains mum about future plans for "Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora." This year has been a mixed bag for Ubisoft, while other titles like Star Wars Outlaws are busy rolling out patches to enhance the player experience.

"The Sky Breaker," preceding "Secrets of the Spires,” had a playtime of approximately six to eight hours. It’ll be engaging to witness how long this new chapter captivates players. Personally, revisiting the game for the ikran content is an exciting prospect. However, it remains uncertain just how long Pandora will manage to hold fans’ attention beyond that.

This game stands to gain a lot from enriched ikran experiences, as the thrill of flying around Pandora was a highlight we loved. Initially clunky, the aerial combat mechanics could very well see the refinement they need with this upcoming content.