AION 2 guide for the global launch
Founder’s Pack owners get in on 30 September; everyone else plays free from 5 October. Here is when that is where you live, which launcher and class to settle before your items bind, and what the paid packs actually buy.
Pre-download time shown in UTC; the other two are the days NC has published, with no hour yet
- Early Access pre-downloadMonday, September 28 at 1:00 PM UTC 6:00 AM Pacific in NC’s own post. Steam playtest installs have to be removed first.
- Early AccessWednesday, September 30 to October 4 Founder’s Pack owners only. NC has not announced the opening hour.
- Free-to-play launchMonday, October 5 Everyone, no purchase needed. The hour is not out yet.
Five things to settle before you log in
Several of these lock in once you start: a pack is tied to the launcher you bought it on, and some of its items to one character, one class or one server. Settle them in this order.
- Steam or PURPLE. Both reach the same servers, but a Founder’s Pack only works on the launcher it was bought on, and during Early Access a Steam character cannot be opened on PURPLE or the other way round. What changes after launch.
- Your region. The global version runs servers in North America, South America, Europe and Japan. Membership and several pack items work on one server only, so pick the one you will stay on. Regions and servers.
- Elyos or Asmodian. The two factions live on separate servers and meet in the Abyss for PvP, so the faction you pick decides who you can play alongside. How to choose.
- Your class. The Deluxe and Ultimate weapon skin is bound to one class and one server, and the title and supply chest to one character. Choose the class before you claim them. Best class for a first character.
- Whether to pay at all. Nothing is needed to play from 5 October. A pack buys the five early days, cosmetics and 30 days of membership; membership on its own is $15 for 30 days and is what lets you buy on the Market. The three packs side by side.
The eight classes
NC’s global site lists eight classes. In the Korean version’s party finder Templar is the tank and Cleric the healer; Gladiator fills in as a second tank and Chanter as a second healer, and the other four deal damage.
- GladiatorMelee damage, doubles as off-tank
- TemplarTank
- AssassinMelee burst damage
- RangerRanged physical damage
- ChanterSupport: buffs, backup healing
- ClericHealer
- SorcererRanged magic damage
- SpiritmasterSummoner, damage over time
Undecided? Best class for new players sorts them by how forgiving they are, and the tier list covers how they rank once groups and the Abyss come in.
Where you can play it
On a Windows PC, through Steam or NC’s own PURPLE launcher, and nowhere else for now. The platform page has every row with its reason.
| Where | Status | Why |
|---|---|---|
| PC on Steam | Yes, at launch | Free from 5 October; Founder's Pack owners from 30 September. Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit only. |
| PC on PURPLE (NC's launcher) | Yes, at launch | The same game on the same servers. A pack bought here works only here. |
| PS5 and Xbox | PC only for now | The global version is PC only for now; no console version has been announced for it.“The global version is currently being developed exclusively for PC platforms.”Steam announcement: Steam Pre-release FAQ |
| Android and iOS | PC only for now | No phone version of the global release has been announced; NC describes it as a PC game.“The global version is currently being developed exclusively for PC platforms.”Steam announcement: Steam Pre-release FAQ |
| Controller | Partly | It plays with a gamepad, but NC has not committed to full controller support at launch.“While AION 2 is playable with a controller, we are still evaluating if full controller support is within our scope for launch.”Steam announcement: Steam Pre-release FAQ |
| Steam Deck | Not tested by Valve | Valve has not rated it yet, and NC has said nothing about the Deck or Linux. |
The guide, section by section
Launch
Start times, who gets in early, name reservations and drops.
Platforms
Which launcher, what your PC needs, and where it does not run.
Price
What is free, what costs money, and what that money changes.
Servers
Regions, queues, and how the global version differs from Korea and Taiwan.
Classes
All eight classes, who each suits, and how they rank.
Character
Elyos or Asmodian, and the character creator.
Guide
The first days: leveling, Kinah, dungeons, PvP and the map.
Quick answers
- When does AION 2 come out?
- The global version launches on 5 October 2026, free to play. Founder's Pack owners get in five days earlier, from 30 September to 4 October. NC has published the days but not the opening hour.
- Is AION 2 free to play?
- Yes. From 5 October anyone can download it on Steam or NC's PURPLE launcher without buying anything. The Founder's Packs only add the five early days, cosmetics and a month of membership.
- Is AION 2 pay to win?
- NC says shop cosmetics give no stats and potions do not affect gear progression, but players can buy Kina from each other with Quna, and trading on the Market needs the $15 monthly membership. Where that leaves the power curve is the question the pay-to-win page works through.
- Is AION 2 on PS5, Xbox or mobile?
- No. NC says the global version is being developed for PC only, on Steam and PURPLE. No console or phone version has been announced for it.
NC is still adding details before launch; the update log tracks what changed, and sources lists everything this guide draws on. Who runs the site is on the about page.