Cyrus Wesson from the Community team here at Bandai Namco! I’m super excited to tell you about the latest Sword Art Online (SAO) game in the franchise — Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet, arriving on your PS4 February 23.

Whether you’re reading this as an avid SAO gamer, a Kirito or Asuna fan, or you’re completely new to the series, Fatal Bullet will give you a rich and immersive experience in the well-known VRMMO original novel and anime series. With this entry in the video game franchise, we welcome players to the world of Gun Gale Online, a futuristic and exciting game where tactical and challenging new experiences await. Now, let’s FullDive into some of the specifics that make this game such an adventure.

This is Your Story

Have you ever thought to yourself, “Man, I wish I could be a part of the SAO universe?” Well, fear not FullDivers, because in Fatal Bullet, you are the hero. You get to create your own avatar and venture into the world where you’ll meet Kirito and friends while exploring new areas.

You’ll make choices that help you progress through the story and dictate your relationship with the different characters. However, just because you’re not Kirito doesn’t mean you can’t experience his awesome beater skills. That’s right, you’ll be able to play as him and experience his story within the game in Kirito Mode! Just don’t forget, this is still your story where your personal choices come with a price.

Original Narrative Set in Gun Gale Online

Sword Art Online’s story is incredibly dynamic. Spanning across multiple different virtual worlds and realities, you never know if Kirito is going to have a sword, wings, or long hair. It’s a wild ride that we all know and love, and Fatal Bullet continues this never-ending creativity with an all new story supervised by Reki Kawahara himself.

But what’s even better is this story takes place in the intense VRMMO Gun Gale Online, where players can choose what they want their gun-slinging or sword-toting weapon will be. Want to fight enemies up close and personal? Grab yourself a shotgun and a photon sword. Or, did you want to snipe unsuspecting characters from afar? Load up your sniper rifle and crouch on a mountaintop. Just make sure to check your six so Sinon doesn’t have you in her sights, or you’re toast.

Dimps — Unreal Engine 4

Remember how we mentioned earlier that Fatal Bullet is incredibly immersive? Well, that’s in large part due to the game being developed by our great partners at Dimps, utilizing the power of Unreal Engine 4. You can be sure to expect stunning graphics and dynamic environments, plus an engine that can support multiple styles of play. Be sure to utilize those grappling repels, power slides, and the physical fixtures of the map to your advantage; you never know when you’ll have to escape danger.

And last but not least, we have a message from Reki Kawahara himself:

“Hello, everyone, I am Reki Kawahara, the author of Sword Art Online, and I am so thrilled that Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet will be releasing in the Americas very soon. The staff has put in a lot of effort into creating a very stunning game, and I believe SAO and third-person shooter fans will be pleased with this title. I hope you enjoy being the protagonist in Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet, one who forges their fate while suffering from their choices.”

And there you have it! Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet is your chance to dive into the Sword Art Online world. Be sure to grab it on February 23 and team up online. The world is yours, and your choices are heavier and faster than a bullet. Link Start!