The clearing of Sword Art Online (SAO) in the fictional Aincrad arc occurred on November 7, 2024 at approximately 14:55 Aincrad Standard Time (which corresponds to JST in the real-world translation used by many fan discussions). This is the moment depicted in the series when Kirito and the players complete the final boss and the game is declared cleared.
Key context and notes:
- In-universe timing: The event is shown toward the end of the Aincrad arc, with the official “game cleared” announcement occurring shortly after the final battle.
- Real-world reporting: Various outlets and fan communities tracked and announced the timing of the clearing, often aligning the in-universe time with the date in early November 2014 for the original arc’s conclusion, and with the widely publicized 2024 fan-driven commemorations.
- Official/celebration materials: Following the clearing, there were celebratory visuals and countdown streams reported by multiple outlets, commemorating Kirito’s achievement.
If you’d like, I can pull more sources for corroboration or summarize how this event is depicted across different media (anime episode timeline, accompanying specials, and fan discussions).
