The first downloadable content (DLC) for SWORD ART ONLINE: Last Recollection is coming soon to PCs and consoles.
Titled the Ritual of Bonds Volume 1, players can access it starting on January 25, Japanese video game publisher Bandai Namco announced. The game can be played on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.
According to Bandai Namco, the upcoming DLC's plot follows the events after SWORD ART ONLINE's War of Underworld. Players will guide Kirito and his friends to a mysterious dungeon underneath the Obsidia Castle Town.
"While investigating a dungeon that suddenly appeared under the Obsidia Castle Town, Kirito and his friends face a new trial which can only be challenged in pairs," Bandai Namco said.
Ritual of Bonds Volume 1 will also feature new playable characters from the hit Japanese novel series. Bandai Namco revealed that gamers can play as Asuna, Lisbeth, Silica, Sinon, to name a few, in the upcoming DLC.
Meanwhile, developers promised to introduce improvements in Ritual of Bonds Volume 1. These included an enhanced battle system. They also teased fans of the opportunity to fight against some of the series' popular enemies.
The demo version of Ritual of Bonds Volume 1 is still available online. PC, PlayStation, and Xbox players can still access it as of January 22.
SWORD ART ONLINE: Last Recollection was released last October 2023. The game is the latest installment in SWORD ART ONLINE's videogame adaptation. It also has the largest roster of playable SWORD ART ONLINE characters. It currently has a gamerscore of 6.3