AION 2 controller support and the Steam Deck
You can play AION 2 with a controller, but NC’s launch FAQ says it is not officially supported, so expect to reach for the keyboard now and then. The Steam Deck is further out: NC only supports Windows PCs, and Valve has not tested the game on the Deck.
NC’s words on it, in the launch FAQ:
“While AION 2 is playable with a controller, it is not officially supported.”
“at this time we will only be providing official support for Steam and PURPLE on Windows PC.”
That settles what the pre-launch FAQ left open, when NC was still weighing full controller support for launch.
Steam and Steam Deck status
| Check | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Controller support on the Steam page | None listed |
| Steam Deck compatibility | Not tested yet |
| SteamOS compatibility | Not tested yet |
| Operating systems | Windows only |
An empty controller field on Steam is not the same as no support: the game plays with a pad, it just has no declared support yet.
The Korean version’s button layout
In the Korean version, controller support is an official beta: some functions may not work yet, and support is set to widen with later updates. Below is part of its layout, with Xbox button names. The global build may map buttons differently, or ship with less.
| Button | In the Korean version |
|---|---|
| X | Skill slot 1 (basic attack) |
| Y | Skill slot 2 (heavy attack) |
| B | Dodge / sprint |
| A | Jump, or click while the mouse pointer is on |
| LT + X, Y, B, A | Skill slots 3 to 6 |
| RB + X, Y | Skill slots 7 and 8 |
| RT + face buttons | Stigma skill slots 1 to 4 |
| RB + A | Start or stop flying |
| RB + B | Mount or dismount |
| D-pad left | Auto-potion on / off |
| D-pad down | Turn on the mouse pointer |
| Right stick click | Change target |
| View button | Open the map |
Most skills sit behind a held trigger or bumper, and menus rely on switching on a mouse pointer with the D-pad, so the pad drives a cursor rather than replacing it.
How it plays on a pad
How it felt on the global build during the Launch Scale Test:
“Flying with controller is a lot smoother and actually quite fun, but using the skills became more difficult and I still needed my mouse on hand to move the cursor.”
That lines up with the Korean layout, where the cursor is a mode you toggle. Plan on keeping a mouse within reach, at least for menus.
Steam Deck
AION 2 has no Steam Deck or SteamOS rating yet, which means untested, not failed. Nothing has been announced for the Deck or Linux, and the game is Windows only. Whether it runs through Proton is not known. The Deck would also need room for the 100 GB install; the rest of the PC side is on system requirements.
If you were hoping a controller meant a console release, that is a separate question with its own answer on AION 2 on console. For everything else about where the game runs, see the platforms page or the launcher comparison on Steam or PURPLE.