Sword Art Online Fatal Bullet -The Third Episode-

Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet -The Third Episode- was released in 2018 as a promotional special associated with the console and PC video game Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet. The game itself was developed by Dimps and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, marking the first time the popular franchise received a third-person shooter action role-playing adaptation. This special content was designed to expand the narrative universe established by the game, which diverges from the primary light novel and anime canon to focus on the world of Gun Gale Online.

The creative direction for the supplemental material sought to bridge the gap between the game's original characters, such as ArFA-sys, and the established protagonists of the series. By utilizing the aesthetic and mechanical foundations of the Fatal Bullet engine, the design team aimed to provide fans with a deeper look into the interconnected storylines of the game's expansion packs. While primarily intended for existing players of the game, it was received as a functional addition to the transmedia strategy that defines the broader Sword Art Online franchise.