Facts
- Announced
- Genesis Maidens expansion DLC (Sony's State of Play stream on September 3) · 2026-09-03
- Announced
- second story trailer released · 2026-06-28
- Noted
- The DLC launches this winter. · 2026-09-03
- Noted
- It adds a completely new side story set on Floors 1 and 2 of Aincrad, a storyline the sources describe as not depicted in the original novels or anime. · 2026-09-03
- Noted
- Mito, the character original to the Sword Art Online: Progressive films, joins as a new ally with combination and support skills. · 2026-09-03
- Noted
- The expansion also introduces the Curved Sword weapon type, new quest areas, and a 'Sewing' armor enhancement system that lets players attach emblem mods to armor, including a crest that raises defense and reduces damage. · 2026-09-03
- Noted
- Aimer performs the game's theme song 'Live to Survive.' · 2026-09-03
- Noted
- Mito, a character original to the Progressive films, crosses into the main game's Aincrad storyline, and the expansion arrives as the game's Steam user reviews sit at 47 percent positive across 4,043 reviews. · 2026-09-03
- Release
- game · July 10, 2026 (PC via Steam) · 2026-09-03
- Release
- game · July 10, 2026 · Japan · 2026-07-08
- Release
- game · July 10, 2026 · Western · 2026-07-08
- Release
- game · 2026-07-10 · Global · 2026-06-14
- Release
- game · July 9, 2026 (Japan, PS5/Xbox) · 2026-09-03
2 more releases
- Release
- game · July 9, 2026 · Japan · 2026-07-08
- Release
- game · July 9, 2026 in Japan on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S; July 10, 2026 on PC via Steam; Western release July 10, 2026 on all platforms · Japan · 2026-06-28
Connections
Structured graph also available as JSON at /public/entities/sword-art-online-echoes-of-aincrad.
CC BY 4.0.
Sep 3
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced the 'Genesis Maidens' expansion DLC for Echoes of Aincrad during Sony's State of Play stream on September 3. The DLC launches this winter. It adds a completely new side story set on Floors 1 and 2 of Aincrad, a storyline the sources describe as not depicted in the original novels or anime. Mito, the character original to the Sword Art Online: Progressive films, joins as a new ally with combination and support skills. The expansion also introduces the Curved Sword weapon type, new quest areas, and a 'Sewing' armor enhancement system that lets players attach emblem mods to armor, including a crest that raises defense and reduces damage. Echoes of Aincrad launched in Japan on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on July 9, and on PC via Steam on July 10, with the Western release following on all platforms the same day. Aimer performs the game's theme song 'Live to Survive.'
Jul 8
Bandai Namco Entertainment released a new trailer for Sword Art Online: Echoes of Aincrad on Tuesday, previewing the game's Death Game Mode. The mode is a permadeath option that deletes the player's save file upon character death, with no respawns. It is normally available only after completing the game once, but early access is included with the Deluxe and Ultimate Editions. The game launches in Japan on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on July 9, and on PC via Steam on July 10. The Western release is July 10 across all platforms. Players create their own customizable avatar and explore Aincrad alongside characters like Kirito and Asuna. Aimer performs the theme song "Live to Survive." The game has four editions: Standard, Deluxe, Ultimate, and Aincrad (Bandai Namco Store exclusive). The Ultimate Edition adds a digital soundtrack, digital artbook, an in-game armor pack, and the bonus anime "Unanswered//butterfly," which follows other characters during the original Sword Art Online story. The Deluxe Edition includes expansion DLC and a starter item pack.
Jun 28
Bandai Namco Entertainment America released the second story trailer for Echoes of Aincrad, a new action RPG set in the original Sword Art Online world. The game launches July 9 in Japan on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and July 10 on PC via Steam, with a Western release on all platforms July 10. Aimer performs the theme song.
Jun 14
Bandai Namco Entertainment released a second story trailer for the action RPG Echoes of Aincrad, set in the original Sword Art Online death game world. A demo arrives June 16. The game launches July 9 in Japan on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and July 10 on PC via Steam, with a Western release on all platforms July 10. Aimer performs the theme song.