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[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE] · [TECHNOLOGY]

5 clusters · 33 sources · 7 days · First seen · Last updated

NCSoft officially launches AION 2 MMORPG

Overview

NCSoft has officially launched its MMORPG, AION 2, as a free-to-play title following a successful early access period. The early access phase, available to purchasers of Standard ($24.99), Deluxe ($49.99), or Ultimate ($99.99) Founder Packs, provided a five-day head start on the Steam and PURPLE platforms. During this initial period, SteamDB reported significant engagement, with concurrent player numbers on Steam exceeding 170,000 on the first day. Developed using Unreal Engine 5, the game is set approximately 200 years after the original AION. It features a world approximately 36 times larger than its predecessor, emphasizing vertical exploration, flight mechanics, and underwater combat. Players can select from eight distinct classes, such as the Gladiator and Cleric. While players cannot change their chosen class once started, they can create alternate characters on the same server and utilize an NPC Storage Manager to transfer items or the ‘Sync Empyrean Traces’ feature to share Monolith progression upgrades. The global launch includes servers across North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Following the transition to a free-to-play model on October 5, 2026, player engagement surged, with active player counts surpassing 400,000. The title has maintained the number one position on Steam’s Global Top Sellers chart and has topped sales charts in several territories, including the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, France, Canada, Brazil, and Australia. Despite high player volume, the overall Steam review status is currently listed as ‘Mixed’ due to early concerns regarding monetization, server issues, and the use of AI-generated assets. However, player sentiment appears to improve with longevity; users with over 10 hours of playtime have rated the game more positively, with approximately 81% giving it a favorable rating. To support the launch, NC is running the ‘War For Atreia’ campaign, featuring 60 streamers across North America, Europe, and South America.

Entities

Steam · Aion 2 · Purple · Unreal Engine 5 · NCSoft

Timeline

  1. [TECHNOLOGY] 5 sources
    AION 2 dominates Steam charts with 400,000 concurrent players

    AION 2 has launched globally on Steam, attracting over 400,000 concurrent players and topping multiple charts despite previous monetization criticisms in the Korean market.

  2. [TECHNOLOGY] 21 sources
    AION 2 launches globally with over 400,000 concurrent Steam players

    NC's new MMORPG AION 2 has launched globally on PC, surpassing 400,000 concurrent players on Steam and topping several sales charts despite mixed reviews regarding its monetization.

  3. [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    NC Corporation announces AION2 special live broadcast before official launch

    NC Corporation will host a special live broadcast for ‘AION2’ on October 4 at 20:00 via YouTube to celebrate the game’s official service launch on October 5.

  4. [TECHNOLOGY] 5 sources
    AION 2 enters early access with high Steam player counts

    AION 2 has launched early access for Founder's Pack owners, seeing over 170,000 concurrent players on Steam. The free-to-play MMORPG officially launches on October 5.

  5. [TECHNOLOGY] 3 sources
    NCSoft launches AION 2 in early access

    NCSoft has launched the early access phase for AION 2 on Steam and PURPLE, offering Founder Packs ahead of the official October 5 release. The MMORPG features a massive world with enhanced flight and PvP.

Sources

80.lv · actualitesjeuxvideo.fr · appbank.net · austriagaming.at · automaton-media.com · cozi.com · criticalhits.com.br · esports.as.com · eurogamer.net · folhadoleste.com.br · game.watch.impress.co.jp · gamebiz.jp · gamefragger.com · games-mag.de · gamespark.jp · gamespress.com · gigamaus.de · hindi.sportskeeda.com · indies.es · invenglobal.com · it.ign.com · jeuxpo.com · jwave.com.br · khelnow.com · mein-mmo.de · mmobomb.com · news.denfaminicogamer.jp · powerupgaming.co.uk · prtimes.jp · sector.sk · spacemoney.com.br · sportskeeda.com · vpesports.com

This summary has been updated 7 times: see revision history