Aion 2 launched globally on October 5, 2026, as a free-to-play PC game on Steam and NC's PURPLE launcher, with servers in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. Founder's Pack owners got in five days earlier, on September 30. That came almost a year after the original Korean and Taiwanese launch on November 19, 2025. If you searched for the release date, the game is already out and playable, and the rest of this guide covers how the launch unfolded, what the global version includes, and what has changed in the five weeks since.
Our timeline draws on the game's Wikipedia entry, the Steam store page, NC's official notices and patch notes, Wccftech's gamescom interview, MassivelyOP's coverage and the AION2 Hub launch tracker, all checked in November 2026.
The Global Launch Timeline at a Glance
The global rollout came in stages over roughly two months, from the date reveal in late August to the first big raid patch in early November. The table below collects the key dates in order, and the sections after it explain each step.
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| November 19, 2025 | Korea and Taiwan launch on PC and mobile |
| July 1, 2026 | Korean Chapter 1 update (Brawler, level 50 cap) |
| August 25, 2026 | Global date announced at gamescom Opening Night Live |
| September 17 to 18, 2026 | Launch Scale Test on Steam |
| September 30, 2026 | Early Access for Founder's Pack owners |
| October 5, 2026 | Free-to-play global launch on Steam and PURPLE |
| October 14 to 28, 2026 | Free server transfer windows |
| November 4, 2026 | Abyssal Forge: Ludra raid added |
The free-to-play launch went live at 13:00 UTC on October 5, which AION2 Hub converts to 6 AM PDT and 3 PM CEST. NC's Steam listing now shows a release date of October 5, 2026, and the game's description on Steam announces that it is live.
How the Global Date Was Set
For most of 2026, NC's guidance pointed to a global launch in September. AION2 Hub notes that the Steam release field originally read September 2026 and that earlier messaging said the game was launching globally that month. NC then announced the real date, October 5, during gamescom Opening Night Live on August 25, 2026, alongside a release date trailer.
Some outlets described the move from September to October as a delay. NC did not call it one and did not give a public reason. AION2 Hub also points out that on an August earnings call, NC's co-CEO said release schedules were being adjusted with major competing releases in mind, though NC never directly tied that comment to Aion 2's date.
Before launch, NC ran a free Launch Scale Test on Steam on September 17 and 18, which Wccftech also reported during its gamescom interview with the development team. It was an open stress test of the servers rather than a beta with new content, and it gave many Western players their first hands-on look at the game.
Early Access and the Founder's Packs
Early Access ran for five days, from 13:00 UTC on September 30 through October 4, and required one of three Founder's Packs. AION2 Hub lists them as Standard at $24.99, Deluxe at $49.99 and Ultimate at $99.99, and notes that each pack works only on the platform where you bought it, either Steam or PURPLE. NC described the contents as appearance-only cosmetics and early-game consumables, with no stat advantages.
MassivelyOP reported from NC's August livestream that all Founder's Packs include 30 days of membership, applied retroactively for early buyers, and that the pack cosmetics would not be sold directly in the cash shop. NC also kept the head-start players apart from the main launch economy for a while, a decision MassivelyOP covered when the monetization plan was revealed in July.
Those Early Access worlds still exist as Advanced Access servers. NC's November 11 matchmaking notice says they can now be paired with Launch servers in every region, and our server list guide breaks down every world by region and faction.
Why Korea Got It a Year Earlier
The global version arrived after a full year of live service in Korea and Taiwan, and that year shaped what Western players received. NC launched Aion 2 there on November 19, 2025, on PC and mobile. According to Wikipedia, the game passed 100 billion Korean won in cumulative revenue within 46 days, and more than one million characters bought memberships in that period. The same entry notes that PC Gamer reported player objections after the Korean launch to the link between paid memberships, in-game currency and gameplay benefits.
NC kept adding content through that first year. Wikipedia lists a Season 2 announced in January 2026 that brought Expedition, Raid, Ascension Trial and Nightmare content, a March 2026 update with a class balance pass, new Stigma skills and a faction PvP mode called Chaotic Abyss, and the July 1 Chapter 1 update that introduced the Brawler, raised the cap to 50 and opened Eltnen and Morheim.
For global players, the upside of that delay is a more polished game with a year of fixes behind it. The downside is that Korean guides and videos often describe systems, zones and numbers the global servers do not have yet, so always check whether a guide was written for the global build before you follow it.
What the Global Version Launched With
The global release is not a copy of the current Korean game. In its September interview with Wccftech, NC confirmed the worldwide version would carry the quality-of-life improvements Korea received over its first year, while MassivelyOP's summary of that interview adds that it would not include every piece of content added in Korea. MetaRoad's comparison of the two builds describes the global version as a modified Season 1.
- Classes: eight at launch. The ninth class, the Brawler, is still Korea and Taiwan only. Our class guide covers all eight.
- Level cap: 45 globally, versus 50 in Korea since July 2026. See our max level guide for what that means for endgame.
- Group sizes: MassivelyOP reported dungeon parties rising from four to five players and the first raid from eight to ten for the global release.
- PvP changes: stat-normalized 10v10 battlegrounds and an optional PvP flag from the start, except in the Abyss.
- Zones: Korea's Chapter 1 regions, Eltnen and Morheim, are not in the global version.
The business model is free to play with an optional monthly membership, a Daeva Pass with free and premium tracks, and a cash shop. MassivelyOP reported that the membership unlocks the market and the Kina and Quna exchange.
Platforms and PC Requirements
The global version is PC only. NC's Merv Lee Kwai told Wccftech plainly that the global version is only on PC, and MassivelyOP reported that the Korean mobile version is not coming over. The same interview confirmed that a console version is being prepared after the PC launch, with no date or platform named. Our PS5 status guide tracks everything NC has said about consoles.
On Steam, the minimum requirements are Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit), a Ryzen 5 2600 or Core i5-10500, 8 GB of RAM and a GTX 1050 Ti with 4 GB, plus 100 GB of storage with an SSD recommended. The recommended tier steps up to a Ryzen 7 3700X or Core i7-11700, 16 GB of RAM and an RTX 2070 with 8 GB. If your PC sits near the minimum, expect to lower settings in crowded areas like the Abyss. Steam also lists support for eight languages and Family Sharing, and the store page notes that some in-game assets, such as Arcana card designs and certain icons, were made with AI tools.
The First Five Weeks After Launch
Launch day was busy. Wikipedia reports more than 400,000 peak concurrent users on day one, though it notes one source puts the figure at 397,905, so the exact number depends on who measured it. Reception has been divided: on November 12, 2026, the Steam store page showed a Mixed rating, with about half of recent reviews positive.
NC has patched every week since launch. The patch list on the official site shows notes for October 7, 14, 21 and 28 and November 4 and 11. The biggest addition so far arrived on November 4: Abyssal Forge: Ludra, a 10-player raid with Normal and Hard modes, plus a standardized PvP zone called Chaotic Outer Reshanta. MetaRoad notes that Ludra had been pulled from the launch build for rework, so its return was the first major content drop for global players. The November 11 patch followed with Hard modes for the Fire Temple and Ferocious Horn Den Expeditions.
NC has also been enforcing its rules. Its account restrictions notice of November 11 reported 21,091 accounts restricted for botting, gold farming and abnormal trading patterns. Free server transfers ran in two windows in October, first for Early Access worlds and then for launch worlds.
Joining Five Weeks Behind
Starting a new MMO a month after launch means the first players are already at the level cap and gearing for raids. The store's Aion 2 hub includes account listings from third-party sellers for players who would rather join with a leveled character. NC's End User License Agreement for AION 2 grants a personal license that is not transferable and allows NC to suspend or terminate accounts that breach its terms, so read it before you decide.
That said, a fresh start is still very viable. MeinMMO estimates about 10 to 15 hours for a first run to level 45, the servers are only weeks old, and dungeon matching pulls from your whole region, so late arrivals still find groups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aion 2 out in NA and EU?
Yes. The global version launched on October 5, 2026, with servers in North America, South America, Europe and Asia.
When did Aion 2 come out in Korea?
November 19, 2025, in Korea and Taiwan, on PC and mobile.
Is Aion 2 free to play?
Yes. Steam lists it as free to play. Spending is optional and covers things like the membership and cosmetics.
Is Aion 2 on Steam?
Yes. It is available on Steam and on NC's PURPLE launcher.
Is the global version the same as the Korean one?
No. Global has eight classes and a level 45 cap, while Korea has the Brawler, level 50 and the Eltnen and Morheim regions.
Is there a mobile or console version globally?
Not yet. The global version is PC only. NC says a console version is being prepared, with no date, and the mobile version is not coming globally.