The Sword Art Online Team Discusses Bringing the Beloved Aincrad Arc to Life in Their Latest RPG

It’s no surprise that fans of Sword Art Online hold the Aincrad arc in high regard. Typically, when you ask fans about their favorite season or entry in any series, the first one often tops the list. Thirteen years after the debut of the first Sword Art Online video game, the developers are crafting an action RPG centered on the Aincrad arc, aptly named Echoes of Aincrad.

“Throughout the games of Sword Art Online, we’ve never really had one where you could start by playing from the first level of Aincrad, and that’s sort of like our starting point,” producer Yosuke Futami shared.

In the series’ opening episode, protagonist Kirito and thousands of other players find themselves trapped in a virtual reality MMORPG. The game master, Kayaba Akihiko, delivers the shocking news that dying in the game means dying in real life, sending players into a panic. To make matters worse, the “log out” button vanishes, forcing everyone to participate.

“We really wanted players to experience that iconic moment in episode one of Sword Art Online, where they all get trapped in that death game,” Futami explained. “We also aimed to create a game that newcomers to Sword Art Online could enjoy, highlighting the best parts of the series.”

The opening theme for Echoes of Aincrad is “Live to Survive” by Japanese pop artist Aimer. The title not only reflects the dire situation of those trapped in the deadly MMO but also aims to evoke nostalgia among fans, reminiscent of the anime’s first opening song, “Crossing Field” by LiSA.

“We definitely wanted Aimer to sing about what it truly means to live and move forward, much like the journey Kirito and the other characters undertake,” said Futami. “We also wanted her song to capture the essence of the openings from the first anime series.”

In Echoes of Aincrad, players won’t take on the role of Kirito but will create a custom character. You’ll find yourself in this death game alongside him, forming your own party with a fresh cast of characters in a brand-new storyline. Previous SAO games primarily featured Kirito in alternate timelines separate from the anime’s canon. The introduction of a custom character is why the game’s title shifted the SAO branding from the beginning to the end, resulting in Echoes of Aincrad: Sword Art Online.

“The existing Sword Art Online games focus more on Kirito’s story, and since we’re moving away from that, we wanted the title to reflect that this game is about the player experiencing the world of Sword Art Online,” Futami noted. “So we wanted the name to come after the title.”

The one exception is 2018’s Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet, where players also create a custom character, but Kirito still plays a significant role, including a section literally called “Kirito Mode.”

Futami hinted—though he clarified he’s not confirming—that future SAO games might adopt the same naming format to explore new stories in other SAO anime arcs that don’t center on Kirito. “This is a big if,” he said, “so this is not me saying anything because I don’t know. But let’s say if we were to continue making more of these titles, maybe we can title them something like ‘Echoes of Fairy Dance.’”

Asuna, the main heroine of SAO and Kirito’s love interest, has a counterpart in Echoes of Aincrad named Iori. She’s a kind-hearted character who supports your custom protagonist. Iori’s design and role were inspired by Asuna.

“We aimed to create a heroine that could rival Asuna. Unfortunately, we realized we couldn’t surpass her,” Futami joked. “We wanted a potential partner for the main character that could fill that ‘Asuna’ role, and we believe Iori is a very appealing character. While Asuna will always be by Kirito’s side, we want Iori to stand alongside the main character in this game.”

Echoes of Aincrad is also the first SAO game to feature a full English dub, with Kirito’s voice actor, Bryce Papenbrook, reprising his role from the anime. He’s also known for voicing Eren Yeager from Attack on Titan and Inosuke Hashibira in Demon Slayer. Papenbrook has been the voice of Kirito since the beginning in 2012.

Regarding Kirito’s relationship with Asuna, Papenbrook mentioned that he draws from his real-life relationship with his wife to connect with the character. “All of my lines from Kirito to Asuna feel like I’m talking to my wife. I’ve been with my wife since high school. The love Kirito has for Asuna, developed in this virtual world, feels very real to me,” he explained. “I can relate to Kirito’s feelings for her, so that’s my connection to the character, and I’ve experienced a lot of life in those 14 years.”

When Papenbrook began working on the SAO anime, he didn’t have any children, but now he has three. He likens them to his “own Yui,” referencing the AI character who fills a daughter role for Kirito and Asuna.

“Initially, I was trying to figure out that almost father-daughter relationship, but now I can speak about it truthfully,” he continued. “I have much more life experience to draw from as we see Kirito and Echoes of Aincrad from these different perspectives.”

Echoes of Aincrad is set to launch on July 10 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.