When Sword Art Online was airing, did you think, “It should have been me!” If you did, Bandai Namco Entertainment would make your dream come true. The video game developer has announced the release of Echoes of Aincrad, an RPG set in theoriginal Sword Art Online MMO. The game allows players to become one of the 10,000 people trapped in Aincrad during its catastrophic launch.
Bandai Namco Entertainment will release Echoes of Aincrad on the Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 on July 9 (JST). The game will launch on PC (STEAM) and globally the following day. Additionally, a long-form anime titled Unanswered//butterfly has been announced and will serve as a promotional show for the game.
Unanswered//butterfly will be screened in Japan at an Echoes of Aincrad promotional event on May 9. Following the premiere, the anime will be bundled with select editions of the game.
Echoes of Aincrad Individual Edition Details
The Japanese version of Echoes of Aincrad has multiple editions: Standard, Deluxe, Ultimate, and Aincrad. Certain editions will include a “Death Game,” a playable mode that deletes your saved data upon your character’s death.
The Japanese editions of the game include:
- Regular Edition (¥8,100 + tax) — Includes the game’s download and is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and STEAM.
- Deluxe Edition (¥10,400 + tax) — Game download, Death Game mode, Expansion Pack (Expansion DLC and Star Dash Item Set). This edition will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and STEAM.
- Ultimate Edition (¥13,600 + tax) — Game Download, Death Game mode, expansion pack, Ultimate Upgrade Pack (additional armor and the Unanswered//butterfly anime). This edition will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and STEAM.
- Premium Edition (¥19,000 + tax) — All the perks of the other editions plus an art book, soundtrack (3 CDs), Unanswered//butterfly Blu-ray and its soundtrack, B2 tapestry, and four postcards. This edition is exclusive to PlayStation 5.
Two Dengeki Special editions valued at ¥15,100 and ¥26,00 are available. These include autographed acrylic panels, tin badges and a stainless steel tumbler.
The global version of Echoes of Aincrad is available for preorder on the Bandai Namco Entertainment online store. Unlike its Japanese counterpart, only three versions are available.
- Standard Edition ($69.99) — Game Only
- Ultimate Edition ($109.99) — Game, Unanswered//butterfly anime, digital soundtrack, digital art book, armor pack, Death Game mode (early unlock), expansion DLC, and starter pack.
- Aincrad Edition ($149.99) — All of the Ultimate Edition’s perks plus a beanie, wall scroll, patches, and sticker pack.
Preordering via the Bandai Namco Entertainement US store gives players a free Weapon Pack, the Proto-Elucidator Series.
The Echoes of Aincrad game is based on Reki Kawahara’s Sword Art Online light novels. The game is rated T.
Source: Official Website, Bandai Namco US Store
©2020 Kawahara Reki/KADOKAWA/SAO-P Project ©Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.
