Enter SAO As Your Own Original Character in “Echoes of Aincrad”
The Sword Art Online franchise is getting a brand new RPG this summer in Echoes of Aincrad – a brand new RPG from Bandai Namco set in the world of Aincrad and releasing on July 10, 2026, with preorders available now for PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam®.
While there have been plenty of games based on the Sword Art Online universe – a world that seamlessly begets video game spinoffs for obvious reasons – Echoes of Aincrad does something never before attempted in an SAO-based video game. As a series first, players will be able to create their own avatar and experience the massive world of Aincrad through their eyes.
It’s a cool concept really – letting players not just relive the experiences of series favorites like Kirito and Asuna but being able to actually create brand new adventures of their own in a familiar world.
Echoes of Aincrad has a relationship component built-in
Although Echoes of Aincrad may not include playing as a preexisting character from the SAO series, it does follow the spirit of its source material by putting an emphasis on relationships. Indeed, you get to choose a companion at the start of the game to accompany you on your journey – one of which is an SAO fan favorite named Argo.
As you progress through the game, your relationship with your partner will grow and with it new skills and powerful abilities. You know…kind of like how Kirito and Asuna gain new and powerful ways to work together through their own journey.
Echoes of Aincrad adds fuel to the SAO-fire
This new RPG comes at a relatively busy time for the Sword Art Online franchise. Although fans are still eagerly awaiting news about a brand new anime (one that was promised several years ago now with more news promised “soon”), excitement has been growing recently over the announcement of a brand new mainline Sword Art Online Light Novel. The cover art for this upcoming installment (releasing in Japan in April, 2026) was revealed and features action from the current Unital Ring arc.
While Echoes of Aincrad is a whole different animal than a light novel release, it’s still big news for Sword Art Online fans who are pretty eager for any signs of life from their favorite anime franchise. What’s more, there’s stirrings of an original anime promotion being produced for the game – with clips and glimpses of it included in teasers.
The concept for this game – one that allows players to enter the famous death game for the first time as a character of their own making – is unique enough to work, and initial stills from the game shared via gaming sites paint a very compelling picture for this game graphically.
It should be the ideal way for SAO veterans to whet their appetite for more things SAO, as well as for complete newcomers to discover what the series is all about in a compelling new way.
