Author's Note: This is an Alternate Universe fiction, so things are changed slightly from canon. Kayaba Akihiko is more ambitious and much more cunning. Furthermore, Kayaba is not playing as Heathcliff, but instead remains offline, staying at his home in the Japanese countryside. Lastly, the stakes of winning and losing the game have been raised significantly.
That's all for now. Hope you will enjoy my take on Sword Art Online!
Press Release from «Argus Technologies» on «Argus Official Website»
Date: September 1st, 2022
A warm greeting to all. This is an update on the development progress of «Sword Art Online». I am Kayaba Akihiko from the development team, and I have some exciting news to share.
As of last night, the one-month Closed Beta for «Sword Art Online» has officially come to an end. On behalf of «Argus Technologies», I thank everyone who has helped to test the game, as well as everyone who has supported us in the development of this game.
I am very excited to announce that «Sword Art Online» will be skipping the «Open Beta» phase of development, and will be going straight to «Full Release». The original release was slated for November 6th, 2022, however, the date of release has been pushed back to 31st December 2022, at 2300h Pacific Time (UTC -7). At that time, «Sword Art Online» will officially go live worldwide.
The release date has been postponed due to our desire to include a new and much needed function into the game. «Argus Technologies» has recently developed a groundbreaking software called the «Real-Time Universal Translation Engine», or «ReUniTE» for short. «ReUniTE» is an Artificial Intelligence which can seamlessly translate any written, typed or spoken language in its database. When «ReUniTE» has been successfully integrated into the game, any player across the globe will be able to understand each other, no matter which country they are from, or what language they speak. As such, «Sword Art Online» will be the world's first international game.
We have also listened to your feedback about the high price of «Sword Art Online». After many discussions with the development and marketing teams, we at «Argus Technologies» have decided to scrap the existing revenue model. Now, «Sword Art Online» will be free-to-play for everyone across the globe. However, because of the resource-intensive nature of the «Sword Art Online», it will only be supported on the «NerveGear» console manufactured by «Argus Technologies». We understand that the cost of the «NerveGear» is prohibitive for most gamers. So, «Argus Technologies» will be offering a limited-time 90% discount on the price of any «NerveGear» bought from official stores between September 1st 2022 and November 31st 2022, while stocks last. For those who have purchased «NerveGears» prior to this date, an «Argus Store» voucher of the same value has been sent to your «Argus Store» account. Micro-transactions will be enabled in-game. However, 90% of the profits will go towards the prize pool of a certain competition.
Finally, an «Opening Ceremony» will be held at the «Central Plaza» of the «Starting City» on 1st January 2023, at 0000h Pacific Time (UTC -7), to welcome the New Year and the new players of «Sword Art Online». The «Opening Ceremony» will be followed by a special surprise event, where the previously mentioned competition will be explained. Due to server constraints, only 100,000 players will be allowed to connect to the server at the time of the «Opening Ceremony». If you are too late, or if you are unable to purchase a «NerveGear», fret not - the «Opening Party» will be livestreamed on the «Argus Technologies» website. In fact, the livestream will be active as long as «Sword Art Online» is up and running, so please feel free to tune in.
It has been a pleasure developing this game for all of you. I hope to see you at the Opening Party! Bring your swords, and prepare for a truly life-changing experience in a game which will go down in history.
Kayaba Akihiko
Development Director
«Sword Art Online»