Defy Death in the Virutal World to Stay Alive in the Real One in the Echoes of Aincrad Story Trailer

Bandai Namco Celebrates 10 Million Units Sold for SWORD ART ONLINE Games and Prepares to Evolve the Franchise with the Upcoming Action RPG “Echoes of Aincrad”

IRVINE, Calif. – April 2, 2026 – Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. today revealed a new story trailer for Echoes of Aincrad, the action RPG set in the popular SWORD ART ONLINE universe. The franchise recently surpassed 10 million video game units sold. In the upcoming Echoes of Aincrad, players are trapped in a VRMMORPG where they ultimately discover death in the game means death in the real world. Set in the breathtaking floating castle of Aincrad, they must embark on a journey to regain their freedom, overcoming the world's many dangers and working with allies who include the series' iconic characters, to defy death and escape virtual reality. Echoes of Eincrad launches on July 10, with preorders available now for PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam®. For more information, visit www.bandainamcoent.com/games/echoes-of-aincrad

Watch the new Echoes of Aincrad story trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr_dGWiEbJg

Celebrate the 10 million-unit milestone for SWORD ART ONLINE in this special livestream: https://www.youtube.com/live/dpdUZC_ztEg

For the first time in the franchise, Echoes of Aincrad puts players in the role of an original character they create rather than the series' main characters, letting them design their protagonist through extensive avatar customization. The game 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 Sword 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 Companion, each with different skills and abilities that can be customized. As players progress alongside their partner they will unlock new skills and more powerful abilities. Along their journey, they will explore diverse cities and beautiful environments, from serene plains to perilous dungeons filled with secrets, and face fierce monsters and challenging bosses that will test their skills and resolve until the very end.