Echoes of Aincrad: Bandai Namco Unveils Opening Cinematic Featuring Aimer's Song “Live to Survive”

The action RPG Echoes of Aincrad launches on PC on July 10th, so it won’t be long before you can dive back into the Sword Art Online universe. To mark the upcoming release, Bandai Namco has now unveiled the official opening sequence.

Bandai Namco has released the intro video for the upcoming action RPG. The opening cinematic for Echoes of Aincrad features the theme song “Live to Survive” by Japanese pop singer Aimer and gets you in the mood for the release, which is just a few days away.

What Echoes of Aincrad Is All About

The new action RPG is set in the Sword Art Online universe and sends you to the floating fortress of Aincrad. Unlike in the original anime, you don’t take on the role of Kirito; instead, you create your own hero from scratch - including appearance, equipment, and fighting style. The game focuses on real-time action, where you team up with a selectable partner character to complete quests, upgrade equipment, and unlock new abilities. The closer your bond with your partner, the stronger your combined skills in battle.

Pre-order Bonus and Editions

Anyone who pre-orders Echoes of Aincrad will receive the Proto-Eluzidator Series Weapon Pack—a set of six weapon types plus a shield, complete with blueprints, inspired by the prototype of the Black Swordsman’s favorite blade—regardless of which edition they choose on Gamesplanet. A nice bonus to help you get started.

The Echoes of Aincrad Deluxe Edition includes the Starter Pack, the expansion DLC (scheduled through the end of 2026), and early access to Death Match mode—where a single death wipes your progress—in addition to the main game.

The Echoes of Aincrad Ultimate Edition takes it up a notch: In addition to the Deluxe Edition features, you’ll receive the “Unanswered//butterfly” bonus content app with exclusive artwork, soundtrack, and additional content, as well as the armor pack featuring Fluttering Robes and Fluttering Boots. Content that isn’t otherwise available in the main game. Especially cool: The full-length promotional animated film “Unanswered//butterfly” is included, which tells a story separate from the main narrative that runs for approximately 120 minutes.