Bandai Namco to Show First 20 Minutes of New Sword Art Online Anime on the Night of July 4th - Full Version Will Cost $110

Bandai Namco decided to give fans an early look at the full-length anime film Sword Art Online: Unanswered//butterfly, which is part of the ultimate edition of the action RPG Echoes of Aincrad.

Publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment has started a countdown to the premiere of a 20-minute excerpt from the full-length anime film Sword Art Online: Unanswered//butterfly. The video will be released on YouTube on July 4th at 00:58 Moscow time and will offer a first look at the story prequel to the hardcore action RPG Sword Art Online: Echoes of Aincrad.

In this version, Kirito has become a player killer, and the story centers on two surviving adventurers, Emirun and Lexa, who begin grueling training under Asuna's guidance to avenge their fallen comrades against the Black Swordsman. The animation was produced by Polygon Pictures studio under the direction of Tadahiro Yoshihara ("Star Wars: Visions").

The free excerpt will be available until July 6th, 09:59 Moscow time. After that, Bandai Namco will remove the video from its YouTube channel, and the only way to watch the 110-minute film in its entirety will be to purchase the Echoes of Aincrad Ultimate Edition, priced at $110.

The game will be released on July 10th for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.