Bandai Namco Entertainment previously announced a new Sword Art Online title for mobile devices months ago. Gamers could pre-register to play the game upon release, but the release date wasn’t set in stone. Pre-registrations surprised one million worldwide, making it a highly-anticipated game by fans.
Sword Art Online Alicization Rising Steel officially went live on both the iOS and Play Store this week.
Sword Art Online Alicization Rising Steel is an RPG featuring characters from the series. The trailers for the title displayed gameplay videos for favorites like Kirito, Asuna, and more.
The newest title also features a brand-new story set in the Alicization arc written by Reki Kawahara, creator of the Sword Art Online series. There are also original anime sequences created by A-1 Pictures.
According to the official website: “A battle that connects noble spirits. A virtual world called the “Underworld…” A young man named Kirito awoke there one day. There, he met a woodcutter named Eugeo, as well as many other residents of the Underworld. Those moments of connection and conflict would challenge the very rules that govern that world. Even though you’re an AI… Even though everything in this moment is simply generated by data… Still, a certain warmth and pain linger in the heart. This is the story of the noble spirits of that world. The battles they fought, the lives they lived.”
One of the new characters include Integrity Knight, Eydis Synthesis Ten, who is Voiced by Kana Hanazawa. Integrity Knight is considered top-tier among her fellow knights, but her Perfect Weapon makes it difficult to fight solo against groups of enemies.
The title’s release came with some confusion for gamers. The original release date was listed as December 11, but the game was released weeks early. Those who pre-ordered early also received bonus rewards.
The game is free to download and play, but there are in-game purchases.
The newest mobile title shouldn’t be confused with Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris, which will only be released on PC and consoles. Bandai Namco has not yet listed the official release date on its website. Some retailers, like Amazon, have announced it for March 3, 2020.
Sword Art Online Alicization Rising Steel is now available worldwide but has not yet launched in every region due to licensing.
