The Open Network Test (ONT) in September 2024 was not just a peek-proof test to the limit for the capacities of both the players and the servers; therefore, it was a glimpse into the wildest idea of one of the most daring SAO titles ever.
The ONT event was not like any other demo. Essentially, the ONT was a challenge across consoles as it voluntarily invited participants from PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC to compete simultaneously. The transport of the winnings was one of the factors that made the event even more incredible. Practically, all the outfits and weapons that were gathered in the ONT became transferable to the main game for the first time, which meant that the prologue players would have a significant advantage. To the fanatics who were attracted by such an intense struggle for the equipment, which was massive.
Fractured Daydream doesn’t focus on the feat of a single hero. It’s a game featuring massive, co-op chaos. The ONT was holding 20-player raids where teams battled the likes of The Skull Reaper and Sword Golem, two of the most legendary bosses. Players were initially separated into five teams of four, each with their own objectives, before gathering together for the grand finale.
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.