yes, it's in the Arise prequel universe.
and god I hope it's better than Arise:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2311231
it seems like this movie is Part 6 of Arise with the Firestarter/false memories arc.
and wtf Firestarter (Part 5) seems to have better hacking skills than the LaughingMan?!
Arise is supposed to be when the Major first formed the team, and a decade b4 the original Ghost in the Shell movie.
hacking skill power creep?
and I don't like how they're using the same Logicon tanks as in Solid State Society, which was supposed to be their newest most advanced in that story line. (again, a decade or 2 after Arise)