Sword Art Online will return with its best bow someday

Since its release in 2012, "Sword Art Online" has captured the attention of millions of fans by exploring the psychological effects of getting trapped in virtual worlds and the relationships that form within them. The story of Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya, who struggles to overcome the challenges of various video games, has become a benchmark of the isekai genre (although it is not really). Despite the anime's final season concluding in 2020, Kirito's narrative continues in the light novels and manga, and the most recent arc, "Unital Ring," has garnered great anticipation.

The Unital Ring Arc: A New Challenge for Kirito

"Unital Ring" is the fifth main arc of "Sword Art Online" and began in Volume 21 of the light novels in December 2018. In this new plot, Kirito, Asuna, and Alice are immersed in a survival MMO created by The Seed, the same program behind the virtual worlds of the previous sagas. This new game merges all the VRMMOs known so far, allowing players to interact with different game worlds and their mechanics.

The arc picks up the story after the attack on the Ocean Turtle and Kirito's recovery from his coma, having spent 200 years in the Underworld at the end of "Alicization". In "Unital Ring", the protagonists face new challenges in an environment reminiscent of the first adventures in "Sword Art Online", but with a twist that combines the best elements of the previous arcs.

When will the anime adaptation arrive?

Although fans are eager to see the anime adaptation of "Unital Ring," there is still no official confirmation of its production. Since the arc is ongoing and the publication of the light novels continues, it is likely that the anime will not be released until the story in the source material is further along or even concluded. This follows the trend of the previous arc, "Alicization," which was only adapted into anime once the novels had ended.

With Volume 28 of the "Unital Ring" light novels published in June 2024, and the expectation that one or two volumes will be released per year, it is possible that it will still be several years before the arc reaches its conclusion. Additionally, a manga adaptation of "Unital Ring" was announced in March 2023, which also keeps fans busy while they wait for the animated adaptation.

A unique arc that could close the story

One of the most intriguing aspects of "Unital Ring" is the possibility that this arc will be the closing of the "Sword Art Online" saga. Although the author, Reki Kawahara, has not confirmed if this will be the definitive ending, the story of "Unital Ring" offers an epic approach that combines all the previous VRMMOs into a single game. This suggests a possible outcome that could give a satisfactory closure to Kirito and Asuna's narrative, but for now, only Kawahara knows if this will be the end of the series.

For fans who don't want to wait, both the light novels and the "Unital Ring" manga offer a chance to continue enjoying the story. Although there is no animated adaptation in the works yet, the release of these formats ensures that the plot continues to develop, and those who are up to date with the source material will be better prepared when the anime finally arrives.

Meanwhile, fans of "Sword Art Online" can look forward to an epic continuation in the "Unital Ring" story, with new characters, mysteries to solve and the mix of fantasy, action and drama that has made the franchise so successful. Although the anime adaptation seems to be still a long way off, the expansion of Kirito's universe continues at a steady pace in his novels and manga, and the future of the series remains bright.