At TGS 2016, Bandai Namco held a special stage event for Sword Art Online. The event presented information about the series including new information for Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization.
During the presentation it was announced that Kizmel Sword Art Online Progressive would be able to join Kirito’s party as an NPC. Kizmel is a Dark Elf NPC featured in the Progressive light novels. She assisted Kirito and Asuna in the early floors of Aincrad.
Along with this news, more details on post launch updates and DLC were announced. The first of these updates is a story expansion involving Seven and Rain from SAO: Lost Song. The update will add a new map and story for the new characters and will add approximately 20 hours of play time.
Free DLC will also be offered for the game in the form of additional missions and quests.
An additional story DLC titled “Priestess of the Abyss” (tentative) will release in 2017. This DLC will tell a new story separate from the main story. It will be told across three episodes. This story DLC will be included in the game’s season pass.
The opening theme and ending theme of the game was also previewed during the event. The opening is titled “Windia” and performed by Luna Haruna. You can check out the preview below.
The ending theme for the game is performed by Haruka Tomatsu (Asuna’s voice actress) and is titled “Two of us.” You can check out the preview and a special message from Haruka Tomatsu below.
A new PV was also streamed for the game at the event. You can check that out below.
Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization is set to release on PS4 and PS Vita in Japan on October 27, 2016.
It is set to release in both North America and Europe on November 8, 2016.