Sword Art Online Extra Edition recaps the Aincrad and Fairy Dance arcs as well as some new footage. The Extra Edition footage is schedules to run on the 31st of December on Tokyo MX, it seems that the original content will include a swimsuit episode. The characters accept a ALO underwater quest when they learn about Yui’s wish to see a whale. From this they learn that Suguha/Leafa is unable to swim, Asuna takes her to the world pool to train. Meanwhile, Kirito is having mysterious meetings.

The 13th Sword Art Online Light Novel was released in August, to which the author Reki Kawahara mentioned his plans for the end of year anime special. He mentions that the Extra Edition will be a retelling of the Aincrad and Fairy Dance arc as well as some new footage which will be included, as described above it seems that the new footage will be a swimsuit episode.

Author of Sword Art Online, Reki Kawahara mentions his plans on the afterword of the light novel. He mentions:

“I’d like to do a bit of promotional plugging on this page here. You probably already know this from looking at the book’s wraparound jacket band, but at the end of 2013 the Sword Art Online TV anime series will be getting a TV special.

Although the year-end TV special is fundamentally a compilation of the Aincrad and Fairy Dance chapters from the 2012 TV anime series, there will be some new scenes added.

It’s been almost a year since we’ve all been able to see Kirito move around in animated form on a TV screen, so please do watch the TV special.”

Source: CR