What it is
AION 2 is NC’s PC-only MMORPG and the next major entry in the AION series. It combines faction warfare, action combat, open-world exploration and large-scale online play in a fantasy setting built around flight. One important correction for UK readers: AION 2 has not launched here as of Sunday 27 September 2026. NC’s official global launch is Monday 5 October 2026, while Founder's Pack owners receive five days of Advanced Access from Wednesday 30 September. The 17–18 September event was a temporary Launch Scale Test, not the full release.
- UK release
- Monday, 5 October 2026 — global free-to-play launch
- Advanced Access
- Wednesday, 30 September to Sunday, 4 October 2026 with any Founder's Pack
- Platforms
- PC only — Steam and PURPLE
- Developer
- NC
- Publisher
- NC
- UK price
- Free to play; Founder's Packs £18.49, £36.99 and £73.99
- Genre
- Role-playing, adventure and massively multiplayer online
- Online mode
- Yes — MMO multiplayer with co-operative PvE and faction PvP
- Perspective
- Third person
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
Story and setting
AION 2 is set 200 years after the original AION. You become a Daeva and choose between the Elyos and Asmodian factions, which begin in separate regions before the story develops into larger Realm-versus-Realm conflict. The central premise remains a war between opposing peoples in the world of Atreia, with the Abyss and the skies acting as major battlegrounds.
The world is advertised as more than 36 times larger than the original game. NC’s design goal is to let players explore what they can see, including full aerial movement in every region and underwater exploration. That emphasis on three-dimensional travel is the sequel’s clearest point of difference from a conventional fantasy MMO.
How it plays
The global version has eight classes: Gladiator, Templar, Assassin, Marksman, Sorcerer, Spiritmaster, Cleric and Chanter. Each has a recognisable role, from tanking and healing to ranged damage and support, but NC has rebuilt them around faster manual combat. The game uses hit confirmation and does not include auto-combat, although some convenience features such as auto-navigation have divided players during testing.
There is content for solo players as well as groups. NC has announced more than 200 dungeons, including solo instances and four- or eight-player group dungeons, alongside open-world events, faction PvP, character customisation with more than 200 adjustable features, pets and lightweight mini-games. The official material also highlights free flight, underwater exploration and monster taming, with some defeated creatures usable as mounts.
Platforms, launch and UK price
AION 2’s global release is for Windows PC only, through Steam and NC’s PURPLE launcher. NC has confirmed North American, South American, European and Japanese server regions, with English, French, German, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Japanese and Korean language support. There is no announced PlayStation, Xbox or global mobile version.
The base game is free to play. The optional Founder's Packs are currently listed for UK Steam accounts at £18.49 for Standard, £36.99 for Deluxe and £73.99 for Ultimate. All three include five days of Advanced Access, a 30-day Special Quai membership, a supply chest and an exclusive title; the more expensive packs add cosmetic skins, wings and a pet rather than a different game client.
Updates and reception
AION 2 is already live in South Korea and Taiwan, where it launched on 19 November 2025, but the UK and wider global service has not launched yet. The Asian service has since received new expeditions, class changes and PvP additions including Chaotic Abyss. Those updates are useful context, but they should not be treated as global post-launch content until NC confirms exactly what carries across.
The global Launch Scale Test ran for two six-hour sessions on 17 and 18 September, with a level cap of 37 and all progress wiped afterwards. No verified scored reviews from IGN, Eurogamer or VGC were available before the global launch, so there is no dependable critic verdict yet. Early player reaction to the test was mixed, with the visuals and character creator drawing interest while the interface, opening combat and monetisation remained points of debate.
PC requirements and what remains unclear
The minimum PC specification is Windows 10 or 11 64-bit, an AMD Ryzen 5 2600 or Intel Core i5-10500, 8GB of RAM, a GTX 1050 Ti with 4GB of VRAM and 100GB of storage. NC recommends a Ryzen 7 3700X or Core i7-11700, 16GB of RAM and an RTX 2070 with 8GB. An SSD is recommended, and the listed minimum assumes Very Low settings at Full HD, while the recommended specification targets Low settings rather than a high-end visual preset.
For a British player, the sensible approach is to treat 5 October as the real starting point and the Founder's Pack as an optional head start, not a requirement. The free-to-play launch is the first opportunity to judge the global build, its queues, its economy and how much of the Korean and Taiwanese live-service structure has been carried over.
Not yet confirmed
- A UK PEGI classification has not been published in the official sources checked. The German USK has rated the PC version 16, citing violence, in-game purchases, pressure to play and sexualised character designs.
- NC has confirmed the 5 October launch date but has not published a formal UK unlock time. Steam’s current underlying listing points to 13:00 UTC, or 14:00 BST, but that timing should be treated as provisional until NC confirms it.
- Full controller support at launch remains under evaluation, although NC says the game is playable with a controller.
- No complete global post-launch roadmap, boxed UK edition or console release has been announced.
Aion 2: your questions
Is AION 2 out in the UK?
No. As of 27 September 2026, the global PC launch is scheduled for Monday 5 October 2026. Founder's Pack owners can start five days earlier, from 30 September.
Is AION 2 free to play?
Yes. The base game is free to play on Steam and PURPLE. Optional Founder's Packs provide Advanced Access, membership time and cosmetic items.
Can I play AION 2 with friends?
Yes. It is an online MMO with co-operative content, including four- and eight-player dungeons, as well as faction-based PvP.
Do I need to play the original AION first?
No. NC’s global pre-release FAQ says new players can start AION 2 without prior knowledge of the original game or its story.
Is AION 2 coming to PS5, Xbox or mobile?
Not in the announced global release. NC currently describes the global version as PC-exclusive, with Steam and PURPLE as its platforms.
