AION 2 has officially launched worldwide, giving players the chance to explore its huge fantasy world for free on PC through Steam and NC’s proprietary PURPLE platform.
Following the original AION, which launched 17 years ago, NC (formerly NCSOFT) has spent much of this year preparing AION 2 for its global audience. The developer began speaking directly with Western players in March, gathering feedback on everything from player expectations to pricing before moving towards the global release.
That work appears to have paid off, with AION 2 reaching the number one position on Steam’s Global Top Sellers chart across more than 10 regions following its Early Access launch on September 30.
A Modern MMORPG Built Around Player Freedom
NC has taken a much more direct approach with the global launch, introducing players to the development team through developer-led videos while also adjusting pricing based on feedback from Western audiences.
The game was showcased at Summer Games Fest Play Days in June and Gamescom in August, followed by a Launch Scale Test in September and the September 30 Early Access release. Those stages formed part of the War For Atreia campaign, leading into today’s full global launch.
AION 2 has been created specifically for PC, with local servers covering North America, South America, Europe and Japan. The game is available in English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean and Russian, with an ESRB rating of T for Teen and a PEGI 16 rating.
Freedom of Flight Takes Centre Stage
Flight and freedom of movement sit at the heart of AION 2, with the game promising aerial combat alongside large-scale environmental traversal. Combat combines precision, timing and positioning with traditional tab-targeting mechanics, creating a faster-paced take on the MMORPG formula.
The PvE offering ranges from solo activities and five-player dungeons through to 10-player raids, with teamwork and mastering enemy mechanics playing a major role.
For players looking for competition, AION 2 also features a range of PvP activities, including 1v1 and 4v4 arenas alongside large-scale cross-server Realm-vs-Realm battles. The faction-based Abyss from the original AION also makes a return.
A World 36 Times Larger Than the Original
Built using Unreal Engine 5, with extensive modifications for character customisation and multiplayer gameplay, AION 2 features a high-fantasy world that NC says is 36 times larger than the original game.
Players can choose from eight classes and customise their characters using more than 200 options, while the game’s emphasis on flight gives players considerably more freedom when exploring Atreia.
A New Story 200 Years Later
The story takes place 200 years after the events of the original AION. Following the destruction of the Tower of Eternity, the familiar Elyos and Asmodian factions find themselves dealing with a shattered universe and a newly empowered Balaur faction.
That conflict provides the backdrop for a new adventure designed to introduce both returning players and newcomers to the world of AION.
NC has also released a behind-the-scenes documentary exploring the development team’s goals and the creation of AION 2, giving players a look at how the global MMORPG came together.
AION 2 is available to play for free now on PC via Steam and PURPLE.
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