Key Takeaways
- SAO franchise’s livestream event on 11/7 coincides with Kirito’s game victory moment.
- Fans are eager for a new season focusing on the Unital Ring arc, not just another movie.
- Speculation surrounds the big announcement, potentially a new season or Progressive movie.
The Sword Art Online (SAO) franchise is building up excitement among fans with a special livestream event set for November 7, 2024. Fans might recognize that the timing isn’t random; it marks the exact moment protagonist Kirito “cleared” the SAO game back in the first season.
Beginning at 9:33 am JST, the event will showcase the iconic “Aincrad” arc with episodes 1 through 14 of the original anime, strategically synced so that Kirito’s victory scene plays at precisely 14:55 pm JST. But that’s not all. Sword Art Online has hinted at a big announcement, and the fanbase is buzzing with predictions, hoping for a new season that will dive into the Unital Ring arc.
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Will the Announcement Be a New Season?
Sword Art Online’s last season wrapped up in 2020 with the completion of Alicization – War of Underworld, and the wait for a follow-up has stretched to four long years. Fans are eager for the main storyline to progress, particularly into Unital Ring, a continuation that could delve deeper into the immersive virtual realms and Kirito’s journey. Most have expressed a strong desire for a new season rather than yet another movie. While the films have been well-received, they don’t advance the main storyline that manga fans (and even most anime fans) are invested in.
While there’s no official confirmation on what the November 7 announcement will be, there are plenty of theories swirling around the community. Some believe it may indeed be a fresh season focusing on Unital Ring, as the franchise has enough material for a new story arc. But there’s a competing theory that SAO might deliver yet another Progressive movie, continuing the recent trend of revisiting and expanding on early events from Kirito’s journey in Aincrad.
While some fans are hoping the announcement could signal a new virtual reality game, that scenario seems less likely. The franchise recently released Sword Art Online: Fractured Daydream, which offered fans an immersive experience and quenched the game thirst — at least for now. With a brand-new title already on the market, the timing suggests that SAO’s next big reveal will focus on a different medium, possibly a continuation of the main story or another movie.
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Could It Be Another Movie or an Event-Only Tease?
Though a full series return is the hope of many, some fans remain cautious. The Progressive movies have gained popularity, and SAO has recently been investing in these film adaptations, so there’s a chance the announcement could relate to another installment in that line.
Plus, there’s always a chance that the announcement will just be a special commemorative video or live-action promotional material celebrating the anime’s most memorable moments. If this is the case, the anticipation might lead only to a nostalgia-filled tribute rather than groundbreaking news.
Sword Art Online
Sword Art Online is an anime series that follows protagonist Kirito as he and thousands of others become trapped in a virtual reality MMORPG where death in the game means death in real life. Kirito must navigate this perilous and immersive world to find a way to escape, facing numerous challenges and building alliances along the way. The series explores themes of survival, friendship, and the blurring line between reality and fantasy.