AION 2 platforms: where the global version runs
The global version of AION 2 is a Windows PC game, and you get it through one of two launchers: Steam or NC’s own PURPLE. Both are free from 5 October and both connect to the same servers. Nothing else has been announced for the global release: no PS5 or Xbox version, no phone app, no Mac build. Controllers work, within limits NC has spelled out itself.
| 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. |
| Mac | Not announced | Steam lists Windows only, and NC has not announced a Mac version. |
Two launchers, one game
Steam and PURPLE are not two editions. NC’s Founder’s Pack notice says every platform shares the same servers, so a Steam player and a PURPLE player can end up in the same party. What differs is where your purchases live: a pack bought on Steam works only on Steam, and during Early Access (30 September to 4 October) a character cannot cross from one launcher to the other. Outside that window, NC’s support FAQ explains how to open a Steam character through PURPLE and the other way round. The full comparison, with a table of who should pick which, is on Steam or PURPLE; getting either one installed is covered in download and install.
What your PC needs
Steam lists 64-bit Windows 10 or 11 only, and 100 GB of free space with an SSD recommended. The floor for graphics is a GTX 1050 Ti with 4 GB, and even NC’s recommended RTX 2070 comes with a note to use the Low preset at 1080p. Both spec columns side by side, and a short checklist for your own machine, are on system requirements.
Consoles, phones and Mac
- PS5 and Xbox
- Not announced. NC describes the global version as being developed for PC, and has said nothing about a console version beyond that. What you can do from a sofa meanwhile is on AION 2 on console.
- Android and iPhone
- The AION2 app in the App Store and Google Play belongs to the Korean and Taiwanese service, which opened in those two regions ahead of the global one. It is not the game that opens worldwide on 5 October. See AION 2 mobile, and the Taiwan and Korea versions for how the two services differ.
- Mac and Linux
- Steam marks the game as Windows only and NC has not announced a Mac version. Valve has not rated AION 2 for SteamOS either, so running it through a compatibility layer is untested.
Controllers and the Steam Deck
NC says the game can be played with a controller but has not committed to full controller support at launch, and the Steam page does not list controller support at all. Valve’s Deck compatibility report for AION 2 is empty, which means not tested rather than not working. The Korean version has an official gamepad layout marked as a beta; controller and Steam Deck shows part of it and what it does and does not tell you about the global build.
Countries where it will not run
The launcher is not the only gate. NC’s support FAQ lists 18 countries and territories where it can neither take payment nor allow play:
China, Vietnam, Cuba, Syria, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Taiwan, Macau, Russian Federation, Belarus, Belgium, Netherlands, Curacao, Bonaire, Saint Maarten, Aruba, Serbia, Slovakia.
Two details stand out. Russian is one of the eight game languages even though Russia is on the list, and Korea and Taiwan are there because they have their own service. The four regions that do get servers, North America, South America, Europe and Japan, are covered on regions and servers.