Avatar
Avatar is an early graphics-based multi-user highly interactive role-playing computer game, created on the University of Illinois' Control Data Corporation PLATO system in the late 1970s. It has graphics for navigating through a dungeon and chat-style text for player status and communication with others. It can currently be played online via Cyber1 or a simulation called Javatar. What makes Avatar popular is the high level of interactivity with other players and the sense of community that develops. Development on Avatar began on the University of Illinois PLATO system around 1977; the first version was released by Bruce Maggs, Andrew Shapira, and David Sides in 1979.
Player stats
Estimated total players
~35
How many people we think have played Avatar in total.
| Month | Social score | Change |
|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | ~58 | |
| July 2026 | ~58 | — |
Community activity
Daily Avatar community data tracked across Steam, Discord, Reddit, Twitch, and YouTube.
Discord members
54 online now
177Up 1.1% past week
The official Avatar Discord server has 177 members, with 54 of them online at the last check. Membership is up 1.1% over the past week.
Twitch viewers
0 live streams
0
Avatar recently drew 0 live viewers on Twitch across 0 streams; viewership peaked at 2 on Aug 2, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Avatar dead or still active?
No, Avatar is not dead — it is live and playable.
How big is the Avatar Discord server?
The official Avatar Discord server has around 177 members (54 typically online).
When was Avatar released?
Avatar was released in December 1979 by Bruce Maggs, Andrew Shapira, David Sides, Tom Kirchman, Greg Janusz, and Mark Eastom.
What platforms is Avatar available on?
Avatar is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux.