Lyon, France – 3 September 2026 – Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe today announced that the adventures on the floating castle of Aincrad are not over yet. Genesis Maidens, a DLC for Echoes of Aincrad is in the works and set to release this winter 2026. Genesis Maidens will come to the Action JRPG set in the world of SWORD ART ONLINE for PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam®.
Genesis Maidens brings a new storyline and side quests that extend players’ journey across new areas of Floors 1 and 2 of Aincrad, while introducing a new ally: Misumi Tozawa, better known as Mito. Making her entrance from the SWORD ART ONLINE Progressive films, she will join the party to support the players although she still struggles to overcome the guilt she bears from her past actions. Mito will introduce a new weapon type, the curved sword and will sport her own combination skills and support skills. This DLC also adds a new system of enhancing armors, allowing players to upgrade them with passive effects, creating new customisation for their builds.
In Echoes of Aincrad, players can create their own character and truly be the hero of their own story as they find themselves trapped in a dangerous video game where virtual death in the floating castle of Aincrad, means death in the real world. Customisation is key as they level up and master their skills, managing their character attributes to build their own playstyle and become the ultimate hero of Aincrad.
They can explore breathtaking sceneries through quests and missions, overcoming epic fights against powerful enemies to escape these deadly virtual dungeons. Combat offers an added layer of strategy through the switch system, which allows their ally to step in and support the player or fight independently against their own opponents. Finally, in classic RPG fashion, players must learn the ropes, dodging, parrying and timing their actions perfectly to gain advantage and defeat those standing on their way to freedom.
Echoes of Aincrad is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series XIS, and PC via Steam.
For more information about Echoes of Aincrad and other titles from Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe please visit: https://www.bandainamcoent.eu. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or join the conversation on X and Threads.
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About Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe S.A.S.
Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe is a leading global publisher, developer, and distributor of entertainment content for platforms including, but not limited to, all major video game consoles and PC.
Producing intellectual property for a global audience, Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe is building its reputation with franchises such as LITTLE NIGHTMARES™, and production capabilities of Reflector Entertainment.
Based in Lyon, France, Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe is known for bringing many of the entertainment industry’s top franchises such as PAC-MAN™, GUNDAM™, TEKKEN™, ACE COMBAT™, DARK SOULS™, and ELDEN RING™ to EMEA and ANZ markets.
For more information, please visit www.bandainamcoent.eu
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Press Release © 2026 Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe S.A.S.