First look at IBM's VR Sword Art Online project

News by Shabana Arif Contributor

Published on March 17, 2016

Sword Art Online is real - kinda - and here's your first look at it in action.

Sword Art Online is a popular anime set in the not-so-distant future where VR hardware has advanced to incorporate your senses into the game world. You're a big vegetable when you log in, but your VR avatar is running around having a whale of a time.

IBM Japan have been working on a project called Sword Art Online: The Beginning, and while it's no NerveGear, it does resemble the headset from the anime somewhat.

SAO: The Beginning doesn't use a controller. Your body is scanned to create an avatar and it's controlled by your own body movements.

The project is being demoed between March 18 and March 20. According to Inside Games, over 100,000 people signed up to give it a whirl, but only 208 will get to attend the event this weekend to try it out. You can check some screens of the game and pictures of the event below.