Description

Set in the near future, SAO follows a protagonist who secures one of the limited places in a mysterious online game on its launch day. It is one of many titles built around recently developed full-dive technology, which lets players immerse themselves completely in virtual worlds. With seemingly few limits—even the flow of time can be altered—this technology has quickly become popular throughout society. Yet this particular release has attracted enormous attention in certain communities for an unusual reason: almost nobody knows what it actually involves. Its little-known developers have shared neither trailers nor in-game footage, leaving prospective players with only a tantalizing leak. The game is competitive, participation is restricted, and whoever wins stands to receive a huge sum of money. Backing from a large company lends credibility to the promised prize, making the secrecy all the more compelling. When launch day arrives, thousands upon thousands of hopeful players attempt to log in. Only a fortunate few gain access—and you are among them, entering a virtual world whose true nature remains unknown.