Echoes of Aincrad: Everything You Need to Know

The release of Echoes of Aincrad is almost here! Let us fill you in on the first game to ever simulate the experience of joining SAO from the first floor as your own unique player character.

Echoes of Aincrad puts you in the shoes of an early beta player for the original Sword Art Online VRMMORPG. Like Kirito, you’ll be the first to try out certain quests and mechanics, knowledge that will serve you well when the game launches for real and the true purpose of Sword Art Online is revealed.

From that moment on, you’ll be in a fight for your survival as you struggle with the other 10 000 players to clear Aincrad and escape from a fantasy that has become a nightmare.

But before you go rushing into the most dangerous game, here’s all the info you’ll need to be ready to play the moment Echoes of Aincrad launches this July!

Echoes of Aincrad Release Date: When Does the Game Launch?

The release of Echoes of Aincrad will happen on July 10, 2026 for all platforms. Actual release times may vary based on location and platform based on the core release time of 03:00 on July 10, 2026.

Here are some examples of locate release times for Echoes of Aincrad.

• CEST - PARIS, France / BERLIN, Germany
  • Cons: 00:00 - Fri, Jul 10, 2026
  • Steam: 00:00 - Fri, Jul 10, 2026
• PDT - LOS ANGELES, California, United States
  • Cons: 21:00 - Thu, Jul 9, 2026
  • Steam: 15:00 - Thu, Jul 9, 2026
• EDT - NEW YORK, New York, United States
  • Cons: 00:00 - Fri, Jul 10, 2026
  • Steam: 18:00 - Thu, Jul 9, 2026
• BST - LONDON, United Kingdom, England    
  • Cons: 00:00 - Fri, Jul 10, 2026
  • Steam: 23:00 - Thu, Jul 9, 2026
• AST - RIYADH, Saudi Arabia    
  • Cons: 00:00 - Fri, Jul 10, 2026
  • Steam: 01:00 - Fri, Jul 10, 2026
• GST - DUBAI, United Arab Emirates    
  • Cons: 00:00 - Fri, Jul 10, 2026
  • Steam: 02:00 - Fri, Jul 10, 2026
• SGT - SINGAPORE, Singapore    
  • Cons: 00:00 - Thu, Jul 9, 2026
  • Steam: 06:00 - Fri, Jul 10, 2026
• CST – BEIJING, China
  • Cons: 00:00 - Thu, Jul 9, 2026
  • Steam: 06:00 - Fri, Jul 10, 2026
• JST - TOKYO, Japan
  • Cons: 00:00 - Thu, Jul 9, 2026
  • Steam: 07:00 - Fri, Jul 10, 2026
• KST – SEOUL, Korea
  • Cons: 00:00 - Thu, Jul 9, 2026
  • Steam: 07:00 - Fri, Jul 10, 2026
• NZDT - WELLINGTON, New Zealand
  • Cons: 00:00 - Fri, Jul 10, 2026
  • Steam: 10:00 - Fri, Jul 10, 2026
• AEDT - SYDNEY, Australia
  • Cons: 00:00 - Fri, Jul 10, 2026
  • Steam: 08:00 - Fri, Jul 10, 2026
     

Will pre-loading be available for Echoes of Aincrad?

Yes, Echoes of Aincrad pre-loading will be available starting at:

-    PS: JP/Asia - July 7, 0:00 local | EU/US - July 8, 0:00 local
-    XBOX: July 7, 9:00 JST / 2:00 CEST / July 6, 17:00 PDT
 

No, pre-loading will not be available for Echoes of Aincrad for Steam.

Which platforms will Echoes of Aincrad be available for? Platforms: PS5, Xbox, and PC

Echoes of Aincrad will be available on three main platforms at launch on July 10, 2026: PlayStation 5, XBOX Series X | S, and Digital PC. 

At this time, Echoes of Aincrad will not be available for Nintendo Switch or Switch 2.  

Echoes of Aincrad Editions and Pre-Order Bonus

Pre-orders are available for Echoes of Aincrad until the end of July 9, 2026. Regardless of your choice of edition, when you pre-order you will also receive the Proto-Elucidator Weapon Pack.

All Editions Compared 

There are three different editions available for you to purchase when you’re ready to play Echoes of Aincrad. Here’s a list of their features:

Echoes of Aincrad Standard Edition

• Contains the base game – Echoes of Aincrad

Echoes of Aincrad Deluxe Edition

• Contains the base game - Echoes of Aincrad
• Expansion DLC Pass - scheduled to be released by December 31, 2026
• Starter Pack – Includes 50 000 Col (in-game currency), 10 High Healing Potions, 10 High SP Potions, and 10 Mystic Crystals.
• Death Game Mode Early Unlock – Start your game in Death Game Mode from your first playthrough

Echoes of Aincrad Ultimate Edition

• Contains the base game - Echoes of Aincrad
• Expansion DLC Pass - scheduled to be released by December 31, 2026
• Starter Pack – Includes 50 000 Col (in-game currency), 10 High Healing Potions, 10 High SP Potions, and 10 Mystic Crystals.
• Death Game Mode Early Unlock – Start your game in Death Game Mode from your first playthrough
• Special Anime Movie – “Unanswered/Butterfly”
• Digital Soundtrack – 141 Tracks from the Original Soundtrack
• Digital Artbook – 640 Pages (approx) of beautiful concept art from the game’s development
• Armor Pack – Flutter Boots & Flutter Robes

Echoes of Aincrad Pre-Order Bonus

When pre-ordering any edition of Echoes of Aincrad, you will receive the Proto-Elucidator Series Weapon Pack, which includes a set of six jet black weapons plus a shield and their corresponding blueprints that will allow you to craft additional copies of the weapons and shield as needed.  

These beautiful weapons are predecessors of the Elucidator blade used by Kirito, a mighty weapon he looted from a boss on the 50th floor. And like Kirito’s blade, they can be upgraded to evolve with you as you advance through the game.

Echoes of Aincrad Gameplay: What to Expect

Echoes of Aincrad pits you against a monster-infested world with only your weapon to protect you. You’ll need to complete quests to gain the power to advance through the floors of the main dungeon.  

Before starting each quest, you’ll choose one of six types of weapons as your means of attack, each with a unique move set that you can customize and strengthen as you defeat enemies and gather certain materials.

Combat plays out in real time, combining basic attacks and dodges with stamina management and powerful weapon abilities (called “Sword Skills”).  

You’ll fight alongside an autonomous partner character whose abilities and positioning can be changed and coordinated for different tactical outcomes based on your current quest.

Character Creation – Put yourself into the death game

Players can customize their character at the end of the Sword Art Online Beta section. The character creator offers pre-made templates as well as feature sliders that allow you to tweak your character and create yourself in the world of Sword Art Online.

Weapons and Combat System – Learn to Survive and Win

In Echoes of Aincrad, your weapons act as your character’s class. You can change which weapon you use between quests or keep the same weapon type from start to finish. Here’s a brief overview of the weapon types available to you:

• Sword and Shield – a balanced option with offensive and defensive abilities. You will begin the Echoes of Aincrad tutorial with this weapon.  
• Two-Handed Axe – Powerful area of effect attacks and long reach. Cannot be paired with a shield.
• Dagger – Light and quick, this weapon can also be thrown for long-range attacks via thrown blades. Cannot be paired with a shield.
• Rapier - A light sword with long reach. Specializes in chain attacks and can be used with a shield.
• Two-Handed Sword – Charged attacks with high damage and low manoeuvrability. Equipping this weapon type changes your dodge to a roll and cannot be paired with a shield.
• Mace – Heavier attacks than a sword, this weapon specializes in staggering and breaking enemies. Can be paired with a shield.

There are multiple blueprints of each weapon type that can be crafted in towns with the help of a Smithy. New blueprints are unlocked by completing certain quests and by finding from the treasure chests.

Weapons in Echoes of Aincrad can also be upgraded with materials for better stats or combined with other weapons to customize their EX-MOD effects. 

Starter guide 

Partner System

At the start of each quest, you’ll pick 1 partner character to fight by your side. You can change the weapons these characters use from your room in any town’s Inn. 

However, your partner skills are set, so make sure to choose someone that fits your need and playstyle every time you go out on a mission! 

Teaming up with partners gives you several advances combat abilities, depending on who is fighting at your side. Some partners have healing abilities, some can buff you or hinder your enemies, but all partners can join you for powerful combo attacks when the time is right.  

You can also direct how you want your partner to support you, either by focusing on the same enemy to finish them off quickly or by keeping other targets off your back.

Discover the Partners 

Exploration: The Floors of Aincrad

You begin at the very start of Sword Art Online, when all the players are at their most vulnerable. A large group of players band together to try to tackle the first floor of the dungeon, and your team signs up to join that fight.  

In the midst of preparing for the first floor boss, your character receives an unusual quest, one that only a small number of players can access. This quest hints at a separate condition that must be fulfilled to prevent a huge catastrophe, and it begins in earnest on the second floor of the game.  

Death Game Mode – What’s at stake?

For those who want a truly immersive Sword Art Online experience, Echoes of Aincrad includes a Death Game Mode, capable of being used at any difficulty to add an extra twist. If you die while playing in this mode, your character’s save is erased and cannot be reused.

For most players, accessing Death Game Mode is only possible after completing the game’s story mode. However, players who purchase the Deluxe or Ultimate Edition of Echoes of Aincrad can start in Death Game Mode from the moment of install thanks to the Early Unlock digital add-on.

Echoes of Aincrad FAQ

Is Echoes of Aincrad Multiplayer?

No, there is no multiplayer mode in Echoes of Aincrad. You will be joined by an autonomous partner character on each quest.  

How Many Floors Does Echoes of Aincrad Have?

You will face the first two complete floors of Sword Art Online in Echoes of Aincrad. 

Just like in the anime, each floor has a wide array of quests and tasks that must be completed before a floor can be beaten, including multiple dungeon crawls before the final boss of each floor can be accessed.

Will Echoes of Aincrad Have DLC?

Yes, there will be an expansion DLC for Echoes of Aincrad. At this time, no additional details have been released about the theme or contents of the expansion DLC.

Age Rating: PEGI and ESRB

Echoes of Aincrad is rated ages 12 and up by the PEGI rating system and T for Teen by the ESRB rating system.

What Are the PC System Requirements?

Minimum: (60 FPS)

Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system

OS: Windows 11

Processor: Intel Core i7-9700K / AMD Ryzen 3 3300X

Memory: 8 GB RAM

Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 [6GB] / AMD Radeon RX 5700 [8GB] / Intel Arc B580 [12GB]

DirectX: Version 12

Storage: 30 GB available space

Additional Notes: *SSD is required. The “Performance mode” game setting enables gameplay at 1080p/60fps. 1080p/30fps gameplay is possible with the Intel Core i5-8400 or the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X CPUs and the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 [6GB], AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 [8GB] or Intel Arc A750 [8GB] GPUs.

Recommended:

Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system

OS: Windows 11

Processor: Intel Core i7-10700K / AMD Ryzen 5 5600G

Memory: 8 GB RAM

Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 [8GB] / AMD Radeon RX 6700XT [12GB]

DirectX: Version 12

Storage: 30 GB available space

Additional Notes: *SSD is required. The "Balanced mode" game setting enables gameplay at 1080p/60fps. To play at 1080p/60fps in the “Quality mode” game setting, the Intel Core i7-10700K or the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G CPUs and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060Ti [8GB] orAMD Radeon RX 6800 [16GB] GPUs are recommended.

Does Echoes of Aincrad Have an English Dub?

Yes, Echoes of Aincrad has both Japanese and English voiceover. The game’s interface and subtitles are available in a total of 14 languages, including English, Japanese, French, Italian, German, Spanish [Spain and Latin America], Indonesian, Thai, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, and Korean.

Pre-orders for Echoes of Aincrad are available now, reserve your copy today on our official store!