Bandai Namco has revealed new premise details, as well as a fresh batch of English screenshots, for the upcoming Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet. Unlike previous games in the series, Fatal Bullet focuses on the new player-created character rather than a customisable version of series protagonist Kirito, who is invited by their childhood friend Kureha to join the VRMMORPG Gun Gale Online.

Upon logging in, the protagonist is teamed up with a newly implemented AI support character called ArFA-Sys, who requests their help on an extra dungeon on the SBC Flügel spaceship. However, before they can do this, they must first collect the necessary parts and fulfill the dungeon's requirements. During the adventure, the protagonist and his allies meet other players, who also want to attempt the dungeon. Bazalt Joe is a previously detailed highly-skilled player who often challenges the protagonist, Zeliska is a player known as the Uncrowned Queen and has the same special type of ArFA-Sys as the protagonist, and Itsuki is a well-known squadron leader.

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The publisher also provided a few extra gameplay details regarding weapons. Players can use the dual arms style to equip weapons to both hands for extra attack power. Multiple types guns can be equipped on both hands, including handguns, sub-machine guns, shotguns, assault rifles, and launchers. Each weapon type also has its own set of arts. New arts can be purchased from a character named Argo. Players can also provide Argo with information in exchange for money.

Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet is being created by DIMPS, a different studio than those who made prior games in the series, and focuses on third-person shooting as opposed to the melee combat of previous titles. The game is out in Japan today, with its North American and European release set for February 23, 2018 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.