Sword Art Online: Alicization – Copyright. A-1 Pictures
It was a long time coming but Sword Art Online returned for a third season in 2018. The popular series has been one of the most-streamed anime titles on Netflix, so naturally, subscribers are wondering if and when Sword Art Online season 3 will be on Netflix. Sorry to disappoint, but the third season isn’t currently on Netflix, but we’re here to tell you why, where you can stream the season and the likelihood of it coming to Netflix.
Sword Art Online: Alicization is a Japanese anime series based on the Sword Art Online light novels by author Reki Kawahara. Alicization is the third series of the franchise, airing from October 2018 to May 2019. Compared to the previous two seasons, Alicization has seen a great improvement in the ratings and fan opinion.
Kirigaya “Kirito” Kizuto is hired by the private institute Rath to participate in trails for a brand new Full Dive system known as The Soul Translator. Unbeknownst to Kirito, Rath was using the technology to create a brand new kind of A.I for military use. Despite spending Eleven years in-experiment time, Kirito’s memories of his experience are blocked. When he is confronted by an old foe in the real world, Kirito is left comatose and upon awakening, he discovers he has returned to Underworld once more. With seemingly no way to escape from Underworld, Kirito sets on a quest to return back to the physical world once again.
Why Sword Art Online season 3 isn’t streaming on Netflix US
Netflix subscribers will have seen Sword Art Online streaming on Netflix for many years now. The previous season of the franchise, aptly named Sword Art Online 2, concluded on in December 2014, and arrived on Netflix sometime in 2015.
Even though Netflix has been streaming the series for years, this doesn’t mean they have the license to stream the latest season. The license for Sword Art Online season 3 is split amongst Crunchyroll, FUNimation, and Hulu.
If you want to stream Sword Art Online season 3 you will need a subscription to Crunchyroll (Eng Sub), FUNimation (Eng Dub) or Hulu. The next arc of Sword Art Online arrives in October and new episodes will be available to stream on Saturday’s.
But I received a notification that a new season of Sword Art Online is on Netflix?
If you receive a notification that Sword Art Online has released a new season on Netflix, be warned, it isn’t Sword Art Online season 3. Netflix has removed Sword Art Online 2 as a separate title and has instead merged the first and second seasons respectively.
Sword Art Online 2 is still available to stream on Netflix.
Will Sword Art Online season 3 ever come to Netflix?
Aniplex, the distributor of Sword Art Online has a healthy relationship with Netflix.
It may take some time but there is every chance that Sword Art Online season 3 will come to Netflix. As the series is one of the most-streamed anime titles on Netflix, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the streaming service splash the cash to stream the latest season.
Are other regions streaming Sword Art Online season 3 on Netflix?
The only regions streaming all episodes of Sword Art Online season 3 are:
- Japan
- India
- Philippines
- Thailand
The fourth season has begun airing in Japan on a weekly basis.
In the UK you will need a subscription to Crunchyroll to stream episodes of Sword Art Online season 3.
In Australia, a subscription to AnimeLab will allow you to stream Sword Art Online season 3.
Canada is the same as the U.S. episodes are available to stream on Crunchyroll and FUNimation.
Would you like to see Sword Art Online: Alicization streaming on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below.
