SANTA CLARA, Calif., (November 8, 2016) – BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., the premier anime videogame publisher has released Sword Art Online -Hollow Realization- throughout the Americas for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and digitally for the PlayStation®Vita handheld system. Enter the virtual MMO world of Ainground and assume the digital avatar of Kirito in an all-new epic action-RPG adventure based on the worldwide hit multimedia franchise, Sword Art Online.

Sword Art Online -Hollow Realization- transports players into a simulated massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) called Sword Art: Origins, complete with MMORPG-like quests, combat, and overall game structure. The characters that players meet in the game are other fictionalized characters playing the game or are Non-Playable-Characters (NPCs) set within the world of Sword Art: Origins. Kirito will be able to befriend these characters to form quest parties or build deeper bonds with certain characters for a more intimate relationship. A cooperative multiplayer mode will let up-to four players tackle quests together with four additional NPCs to further simulate the full MMORPG experience.

After receiving a message to try out the virtual reality MMO game Sword Art: Origins, Kirito finds himself in the land of Ainground, which also runs on the original Sword Art Online death game server. Players will take control of Kirito and team up with new and familiar faces as they explore this new land, take on quests, and find themselves wrapped in the mystery of why A.I. controlled NPCs are being deleted from the game. Reki Kawahara, the creator of Sword Art Online, has closely supervised this brand new story so that it fits within the fiction of the overall franchise.

“The Sword Art Online franchise has seen a meteoric rise in popularity since its introduction to Western audiences,” said Dennis Lee, Director of Marketing at BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “We are very excited for fans of the franchise to experience a brand new adventure as they immerse themselves in the land of Ainground.”

A season pass is available for Sword Art Online -Hollow Realization- that will feature a new story arc called “Abyss of the Shrine Maiden” and also includes new female costumes (exclusive to the season pass) featuring a wedding dress, navy swimwear, and white swimwear. “Abyss of the Shrine Maiden” is comprised of three complete chapters titled “Explorer of Illusory Mists”, “Tuner of Causality”, and “The One Who Resists God”. The season pass is available now for $24.99 and is a cross-buy for both the PlayStation 4 system and PlayStation Vita system versions of the game. Each chapter will also be available for purchase as individual DLC packs. Players who purchase the season pass will gain immediate access to the new female costumes; with the content of the three story arc chapters to come later.

Sword Art Online -Hollow Realization- is rated “T” for Teen with a MSRP of $59.99 for the PlayStation 4 system and $39.99 for the PlayStation Vita. For more information regarding Sword Art Online -Hollow Realization- and other games from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., please visit; https://www.bandainamcoent.com or join the conversation on our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/bandainamcous or follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/bandainamcous.