Echoes of Aincrad: Genesis Maidens DLC releases this Winter with the addition of Mito
Bandai Namco has revealed via the September 2026 State of Play Japan that they will release the first expansion DLC for Echoes of Aincrad. The pack will be titled Genesis Maidens, and it is slated for release this Winter.
The main highlight of this DLC will be the addition of Misumi "Mito" Tozawa from the Sword Art Online Progressive sub-series as a new key character and recruitable partner. Mito had also made a few appearances in the base game's story, but she will have a more prominent role in this expansion.
This DLC pack will also add a new armor enhancement system, as well as a new weapon type in Curved Sword (which is also one of Klein's weapon types of choice in the original SAO series). Note that the player must first clear the base game's story before they can access the new chapter.
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— ソードアート・オンライン ゲーム公式情報 (@sao_gameinfo) September 3, 2026
「Echoes of Aincrad」
エキスパンションDLC『創世の巫女』
2026年冬 発売決定！
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本編クリア後に楽しめる、《アインクラッド》第一層・第二層で繰り広げられる完全新規サイドストーリーが登場！
新たに加わる仲間「ミト」との出会い、
新クエストエリアや新武器種「片手曲剣」、… pic.twitter.com/18dwU2CiOv
Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. today announced that the adventures on the floating castle of Aincrad are not over yet; Genesis Maidens, a DLC for Echoes of Aincrad, is in the works and set to release this coming winter in 2026. Genesis Maidens will come to the action JRPG set in the world of SWORD ART ONLINE, available on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam®. For more information, visit www.bandainamcoent.com/games/echoes-of-aincrad.
Genesis Maidens brings a new storyline and its side quests to extend the journey of players across new areas of Floors 1 and 2 of Aincrad, introducing a new ally: Misumi Tozawa, better known as Mito. Making her entrance from the SWORD ART ONLINE Progressive films, she will join the party to support the players, although she still struggles to overcome the guilt she bears from her past actions.
Mito will introduce a new weapon type, the curved sword, and will sport her own combination skills and support skills. This DLC also adds a new system of enhancing armors, allowing players to upgrade them with passive effects, creating new options for customization of their build.