Sword Art Online’s latest action RPG, Echoes of Aincrad, launches globally on 9 July on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S — and on PC via Steam on 10 July. Developed by Game Studio Inc. and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, it is the first SAO game where you play as a fully custom character rather than Kirito himself, stepping into the original Aincrad death game alongside familiar faces from the series.
Create Your Own Hero
Character creation goes deep. You choose from body type presets, then fine-tune individual proportions through sliders — bust, waist, arm width, leg shape, skin tone and facial features — before picking your starting gear and preferred weapon. Your hero is entirely yours; Iori, the original character featured in official story content, serves as a separate NPC companion alongside Argo, Kirito and Asuna rather than a fixed protagonist you are locked into playing.
Six Weapons, Real-Time Combat and Sword Skills
Combat is real-time and stamina-managed. Six weapon types are available — Sword & Shield, Two-Handed Axe, Dagger, Rapier, Two-Handed Sword and Mace — each with its own move set and signature Sword Skills, the series’ charged special attacks that have been a staple since the original light novels. Chaining those skills against groups of enemies in the gameplay footage looks satisfying; the arc of a wide sword slash clearing a room full of flaming opponents gives a sense of how powerful a well-timed skill feels.
Partner System and Iconic Boss Fights
You can bring 1–3 AI partners into each quest, with their weapons and skills customisable between runs. Floor bosses return in full action-RPG form — Illfang the Kobold Lord, the Floor 1 boss that anime fans have been waiting to face head-on since 2012, shows up with attack-pattern phases and a proper health bar. Two complete floors of Aincrad are open to explore, spanning plains, dungeons and other environments drawn from the original story.
Death Game Mode: Optional Permadeath
For those who want to feel the full weight of Aincrad’s stakes, Death Game Mode introduces permadeath — die in combat and your save is gone. It unlocks after you clear the main story, or from day one if you pick up the Deluxe or Ultimate Edition. It is a smart optional layer that lets casual players enjoy the story at their own pace while keeping the series’ defining tension available for anyone who wants to raise the stakes.
Platforms, Price and Singapore Availability
Echoes of Aincrad launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on 9 July with preloads opening on 8 July, and on PC via Steam on 10 July at 03:00 UTC (11:00 SGT). The game ships in 14 languages including Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Thai and Indonesian, making it well-suited for players across Southeast Asia. The Standard Edition is priced at US$69.99; Singapore PlayStation Store and Steam pricing will follow at launch. For the full editions breakdown and pre-order options, visit the official Bandai Namco page. For more upcoming game launches, check out our Game News coverage.