The Open Network Test (ONT) in September 2024 was not just a quick look–it was a defiance test of the full capacity for both the servers and the players; thus, it was the presentation of one of the most daring SAO titles ever.
The ONT event was not a usual demo. The ONT was a call for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC players to compete against each other simultaneously. What made it even more exceptional was the promise of loot transfer. So for the first time, all the accessories and weapons obtained during the ONT could be imported into the finished game, thus giving the prologue players a big head start. Those who delight in the gear chase frenzy would have been very attracted by this.
Fractured Daydream does not tell the story of one single hero. It is a game of huge, co-op, chaotic battles. The ONT was hosting 20-player raids where teams fought the likes of The Skull Reaper and Sword Golem, two of the most legendary bosses. At first, players were divided into five groups of four, each with their own goals, then they came together for the final battle.
The first stage had teams fighting each other to score points by completing objectives, killing enemies, and gathering loot. After that, everyone merged for one huge co-op battle, which could be the attack or defense of siege-towered objectives or the fight against a giant boss. The game allowed the player who put the finishing blow on the boss to take a special place in the spotlight, thus providing a special incentive for players.
One of the largest hooks in this game is its character selection. The ONT provided nine of the final 21, each playing classic RPG roles such as Fighter, Tank, Rogue, Mage, Ranger, and Support. Kirito and Asuna served equal DPS duty, Agil stood in as a Tank, and Argo and LLENN provided agility and quickness as Rogues. Oberon excelled at magic disruption, Sinon and Fukaziroh provided terrifying long-range firepower, and Leafa kept them all alive with heals and buffs.
The diversity didn’t just stop at looks–every character had unique mechanics that shifted how you fought fights.
No SAO game would be complete without a gear grind, and the ONT did not disappoint. Players could use mods that increased stats such as damage, critical chance, or health. Mods were available in various rarities, and the gold-tier mods provided the most benefit. The twist? You only carried one, so each pickup was a tactical choice.
Bosses and more formidable enemies dropped the most desirable loot, with legendary equipment providing significant performance increases. All the loot from the ONT was transferred to the regular game if players maintained their save data.
Bandai Namco and Dimps went out of their way to make it obvious they were going big. Fractured Daydream was the ultimate SAO crossover, bringing characters, worlds, and timelines together in ways that no fan ever thought possible. It wasn’t about the flash of the cameo appearances–there were solid story points, enemies turned allies, characters brought back from the dead, and special conversations between unlikely partners.
The game has just kept on evolving since the ONT. Besides the new DLC adding characters like M and Pitohui from Gun Gale Online, it has also introduced more missions, costumes, and guns. There are even more new game modes, and a Nintendo Switch demo has given a chance to more players to experience 20-player raids and co-op challenges.
Every update keeps the player base engaged as they look forward to more massive battles, new characters, and further interaction across different worlds.
SWORD ART ONLINE Fractured Daydream’s ONT was more than a tech test–it was an intent statement. This is a game designed for fans who wish to see their beloved heroes and villains come together, face insurmountable odds, and possibly walk away with the best loot in the digital world.