Sword Art Online Variant Showdown set to release in 2022

Japanese game publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment has announced "Sword Art Online Variant Showdown," a new mobile action game based on the wildly popular anime series "Sword Art Online." It is set to release globally in 2022 for iOS and Android devices. The mobile game is free-to-play but will have optional in-game purchases.

A minute-long teaser trailer for Sword Art Online Variant Showdown was also revealed, featuring iconic characters such as Kirito, Asuna, and Sinon. The mobile game will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Sword Art Online franchise.

The official website details the game's storyline. Kirito discovers Cross Edge, a new game created by a rumored middle school genius. He then learns of a mysterious hooded figure attacking people in the game and causing them to lose a portion of their memories. Kirito and his friends decide to investigate Laughing Coffin by starting to play Cross Edge.

Moreover, the official website offers information in various languages, including English, French, Mandarin Chinese, and Korean.

There are no details regarding gameplay and characters as of yet. Bandai Namco will host a livestream to reveal more information about Sword Art Online Variant Showdown on April 2, 2022.

Meanwhile, interested players may pre-register for the game by following the official Sword Art Online Variant Showdown Facebook page. Here are the pre-registration milestone rewards:

• 500K pre-registrations: Premium Ticket x5
• 400K pre-registrations: [Will to Fight] Evolution Crystal x20
• 300K pre-registrations: Coloring Brush x3
• 200K pre-registrations: [Will to Fight] Asuna x1
• 100K pre-registrations: Stamina Battery (S) x5, EXP Chip (L) x30

To know more information and updates about Sword Art Online Variant Showdown, you can visit its official website at https://vs.sao-game.jp/en.

For those unaware, Sword Art Online is an anime series that takes place in the near future and follows protagonists Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya and Asuna Yuuki as they play through diverse virtual reality MMORPG worlds.