A highly anticipated RPG from Bandai Namco Entertainment is now available for players to try on PS5. The newest installment in the Sword Art Online series, Echoes of Aincrad, can be downloaded now for free.
The latest game in the franchise is accessible via a free demo on the PlayStation Store. Players can also transfer their save data from the demo to the full game. Bandai describes the demo as a “Beta Test” chapter of the game.
Echoes of Aincrad marks the tenth console release in the Sword Art Online series, following the 2024 release of Sword Art Online: Fractured Daydream. The game centers around an original character named Lori, who explores the floating castle of Aincrad.
“Step into the floating castle of Aincrad, a world brimming with stunning beauty and peril, where each battle might be your last. Enter a vibrant, mysterious universe, shape your destiny, and craft your hero. Select your gear, master combat with your unique skills and reflexes, and team up with a partner to maximize your abilities. Level up, unlock powerful skills, and expand your horizons with each victory. Will you rise to claim your destiny or fall to foes stronger than you ever imagined?” the game’s official premise states.
Echoes of Aincrad is set to launch on July 9 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Preorders are currently available on the PlayStation Store.
The standard edition is priced at $69.99, with the Deluxe and Ultimate editions costing $89.99 and $109.99, respectively. Their contents include:
Deluxe Edition
- Base game
- Expansion content downloadable
- Starter Pack with helpful early-game items
- Early access to “Death Game Mode,” which deletes data upon death, accessible by clearing the main story
Ultimate Edition
- Base game
- Expansion content
- Starter Pack
- Early access to “Death Game Mode”
- Echoes of Aincrad “Unanswered//butterfly” bonus app, featuring additional character and enemy concept art, background art, and a 120-minute promotional animation that offers a separate story from the main game. The digital soundtrack with songs from both Echoes of Aincrad and Unanswered//butterfly is also included
- Armor Pack featuring Flutter Boots and Flutter Robes, designed for Rex and Emirun. The armor appearance varies based on the avatar’s body type: Rex’s set for TYPE1 and Emirun’s for TYPE2.
Check out the trailer below: