Is Sword Art Online Finished: An Update on the Series

Last updated on August 2023

Sword Art Online (SAO) continues to captivate fans with its intricate storyline and dynamic character development. Despite the series having been ongoing for over a decade, questions about its conclusion often arise. In this article, we will explore the current status of the series and discuss upcoming developments, including the release of the new movie Progressive and the ongoing light novel arc Unital Ring.

Current Status of Sword Art Online

As of August 2023, Sword Art Online is not finished. The series, created by Reki Kawahara, includes multiple light novel arcs, anime adaptations, and spin-offs. The latest arc of the light novel series, titled Sword Art Online: Unital Ring, began serialization in 2020 and is ongoing. Additionally, there have been various anime adaptations and movies with new seasons and projects in development.

Upcoming Movie: Progressive

There is a new movie coming out called Progressive that will cover the first 2 months inside SAO before the second episode where everyone meets up. This movie fills a gap in the storyline and aims to provide fans with more context and development for the characters. However, the anime adaptation is on hold for a while, as the material hasn't been written yet. This indicates that more content will be published before the anime can continue.

Based on the official announcements, the Unital Ring arc is expected to be the final arc. However, the length of this arc remains uncertain. Given that the Alicization arc spanned 10 volumes, it's possible that Unital Ring could be similarly long. It is worth noting that even after the main arc concludes, Reki Kawahara might still publish additional volumes filled with short stories, similar to previous arcs like Volumes 2, 8, and 22.

Future Storylines: Unital Ring and Beyond

The short answer is that the Unital Ring arc will likely be the final arc of the series. There are also indications of another arc, dubbed the Inter Intelligence War. As seen in the final episode of Alicization, the next story is set in a far-developed underground world where inhabitants fight in space. This new setting offers exciting possibilities for future storylines.

Moreover, there is a vast amount of content from the Sword Art Online universe that remains to be adapted. This includes the main series as well as spin-off series like Alternative Gun Gale Online. The Sword Art Online Progressive movie is a revisit to the original Aincrad Arc, with a floor-by-floor retelling of previously uncovered stories. While the first story of Progressive was initially written for the anime, only about 20–30% of it was retained, with the majority of the story being discarded. Progressive aims to present the uncut and proper story of Aria of a Starless Night.

The Progressive story is currently up to the end of Floor 6, with the story of Floor 7 arriving in Spring 2021. This indicates that the series still has a lot of content to offer in the near future.

For more detailed information about the current status and future developments of Sword Art Online, including the ongoing Unital Ring arc, keep an eye on official announcements and updates from Reki Kawahara and the publishing company.

Stay tuned for more updates and insights into the fascinating world of Sword Art Online.