Bandai Namco Entertainment has announced Echoes of Aincrad, a new single-player action RPG set in the Sword Art Online universe. Similar to Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet, the player’s created character takes the role of hero in this story. Take control of your created character as they try to survive this death game in the floating castle of Aincrad.
You can check out the announcement trailer below.
English (US) Trailer
English (EU) Trailer
Japanese Trailer
Bandai Namco describes the game as follows:
YOUR STORY BEGINS IN A WORLD WHERE EVERY BATTLE COULD BE YOUR LAST
Step into the legendary floating castle of Aincrad, a realm of breathtaking beauty and unforgiving danger. What seemed to be a dream adventure has now become a fight for survival. Among thousands of trapped souls, your journey is yours alone; will you rise, endure, and forge bonds that define your destiny? Or will you perish while facing enemies stronger, faster, and more ruthless than you imagined?
This is not just a game. It’s a battle for survival.
Take up your weapon. Shape your legend. Conquer Aincrad. RISK YOUR REALITY!
FORGE YOUR HERO
Design your own avatar and craft your path. Customize your appearance, gear, and combat style through variety of weapons and skills. Build synergy with your AI partner, adapt their tactics, and their equipment to create a team dynamic that turns every battle into a triumph.
DEFINE YOUR PROGRESSION
Level up, master powerful Sword Skills, and tailor your stats to match your unique playstyle. Whether you favor speed, strength, or endurance, your growth reflects your choices.
EXPLORE A THRIVING WORLD
Wander across diverse cities and journey through stunning environments, from serene plains to perilous dungeons filled with secrets. Complete quests, hunt rare treasures, and challenge formidable foes in real-time action combat. The map expands as your story unfolds, revealing new areas and dangers at every turn.
Bandai Namco also describes the gameplay as follows:
Echoes of Aincrad features fast-paced RPG action with real-time combat, where players will be able to adapt and upgrade their equipment, weapons, and attributes, and select special skills to match their preferred playstyle as they level up and take on ever-greater challenges. They will not journey alone, as their victories in combat rely on their chosen NPC partner, each with different skills and abilities that can be customized. As the bond with their partner deepens, players will unlock new skills and more powerful abilities.
A Death Game Mode will also be available to players who complete the main story. In this mode, if you die in the game, your save data is wiped. An early unlock function is also available for those who purchase the Deluxe or Ultimate editions of the game.
The announced characters and voice cast, so far, are as follows:
Main Character
Iori (CV. Kana Ichinose)
Argo (CV. Shiori Izawa)
Kirito (CV. Yoshitsugu Matsuoka)
Asuna (CV. Haruka Tomatsu)
In addition to the game announcement, on the Japan side, a special promotional anime for the game titled Unanswered//butterfly was announced. The anime will be over 110 minutes in length and is produced by Polygon Pictures. It features two new characters: Emirun (CV. Tomoyo Kurosawa) and Rex (CV. Koki Uchiyama). Unanswered//butterfly will be included with three editions in Japan (Ultimate Edition, Premium Edition, Dengeki Special Pack), but it will also be streamed and screened separately for free for promotional purposes.
You can check out the Unanswered//butterfly trailer below.
Some screenshots from the game are also available to look at below.
According to the official Japanese website, Echoes of Aincrad supports the following languages: Japanese, English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Neutral Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Korean, Thai, and Indonesian. For the first time in the Sword Art Online game series, the game will also support both Japanese and English voiceovers. You can check out a table comparing the different platforms below (table is from the Japanese website and translated using MTL).
Echoes of Aincrad is available to pre-order now. It is scheduled to release on July 10, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. In North America, there are four versions available to pre-order: Standard, Deluxe, Ultimate, and Aincrad. The Standard and Ultimate editions are available physically (PS5, Xbox Series X) and digitally (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam). The Deluxe edition is only available digitally. The Aincrad edition is physical only and exclusive to PS5. The Unanswered//butterfly anime is included with the Ultimate and Aincrad Editions in North America. Pre-orders come with the Proto-Elucidator Series Weapon Pack. Each edition comes with the following:
Standard Edition ($69.99, Physical/Digital)
- Echoes of Aincrad
- Pre-Order Bonus: Weapon Pack: Proto-Elucidator Series
Deluxe Edition ($89.99, Digital)
- Echoes of Aincrad
- Expansion DLC
- Starter Pack
- Death Game Mode: Early Unlock
- Pre-Order Bonus: Weapon Pack: Proto-Elucidator Series
Ultimate Edition ($109.99, Physical/Digital)
- Echoes of Aincrad
- Expansion DLC
- Starter Pack
- Death Game Mode: Early Unlock
- Echoes of Aincrad Unanswered//butterfly Bonus Contents App
- Armor Pack: Flutter Boots & Flutter Robes
- Pre-Order Bonus: Weapon Pack: Proto-Elucidator Series
Aincrad Edition ($149.99, PS5 Physical)(Bandai Namco Store Exclusive)
- Echoes of Aincrad Ultimate Edition
- Base Game Disc with Ultimate Edition Upgrade Voucher
- Ultimate Content:
- Special Anime
- Digital Soundtrack
- Digital Artbook
- Armor Pack
- Deluxe Content:
- Death Game Mode – Early Unlock
- Expansion DLC
- Starter Pack
- Beanie
- Wall Scroll
- Patches
- Sticker Pack
- Pre-Order Bonus: Weapon Pack: Proto-Elucidator Series
In Japan, the console versions will release on July 9 and the Steam version releases July 10, 2026. The digital versions of the game have similar content to the ones in North America. The Regular version costs 8100 JPY (+tax), the Deluxe Edition costs 10400 JPY (+tax), and the Ultimate Edition costs 13600 JPY (+tax). However, what’s included in the physical editions differs. First off, the regular physical edition in Japan is only for PS5, there is no Xbox Series X physical in that region. Second, there are three physical bundles to choose from: Premium Edition, Regular Version Dengeki Special Pack, and Premium Edition Dengeki Special Pack. The bundles come with the following:
Premium Edition (19000 JPY + tax)
- Echoes of Aincrad Special Edition (physical version)
- PS5 Version Game Disc
- Special Edition DLC
- Weapon Pack: Proto-Elucidator Series
- Expansion DLC
- Death Game Mode – Early Unlock
- Starter Pack
- Armor Pack: Flutter Boots & Flutter Robes
- Reversible jacket (original illustration by abec/original illustration by A-1 Pictures)
- Echoes of Aincrad Visual Book
- Echoes of Aincrad Game Soundtrack CD (3-Disc Set)
- Unanswered//butterfly Special Box (1 Blu-ray Disc, 2 Soundrack Discs)
- B2 cloth poster with illustration by abec
- Set of 4 postcards
Dengeki Special Pack (Regular – 15100 JPY + tax / Premium – 26000 JPY + tax)
- Echoes of Aincrad Regular Version or Premium Edition
- A4 acrylic panel signed by abec
- Special stainless steel tumbler
- Set of 9 can badges with illustrations by abec
Echoes of Aincrad is developed by Game Studios Inc. and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The game is scheduled to launch on July 10, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. It is set in the Sword Art Online universe which was created by Reki Kawahara. If you’re interested in the game, you can follow the Sword Art Online game info X (formerly Twitter) account and Bandai Namco US X (formerly Twitter) account, and check out its official website (English, Japanese).
