NC launches AION 2 global service; active players top 400,000 in two hours
In short
NC began official global service for its free-to-play MMORPG AION 2 on Oct 5 at 22:00, on Steam and its own PURPLE platform. Game*Spark reported that concurrent players passed 300,000 an hour after launch and that active players exceeded 400,000 an hour later, with SteamDB showing 374,098 concurrent players on the Steam version. The same outlet said new servers were added after launch because player numbers exceeded expectations.
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NC began official global service for its free-to-play cross-world MMORPG AION 2 at 22:00 on Oct 5, according to Game Watch, 4Gamer.net and Game*Spark. Game Watch reported the download is free with some items sold for a fee, and that the game runs on both Steam and NC's own cross-platform service PURPLE. It said the title supports eight languages — Japanese, Korean, English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Russian. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Game Watch reported that the global version covers Japan (Asia), North America, South America and Europe, and that launch events and campaigns are running inside and outside the game, including a collaboration with HP Japan's gaming brand HyperX. Game*Spark said servers are located in North America, South America, Europe and Japan, and that the Steam and PURPLE versions share servers. [ 3 , 4 ]
Player numbers rose quickly. Game*Spark reported that concurrent players passed 300,000 one hour after the service opened, and that an hour later active players exceeded 400,000. The outlet said the development team posted a thank-you message on the official site, quoting it as saying “the whole team is excited to see so many new Daevas joining Atreia”, and that in-game rewards were to be given to all players to mark the figure. [ 4 ]
Game*Spark also reported that SteamDB showed 374,098 concurrent players on the Steam version at the time of writing and that the count was still climbing. It said new servers were added after launch because player numbers exceeded expectations. [ 4 ]
As described by 4Gamer.net and Game*Spark, the game is built on Unreal Engine 5 and offers eight classes, more than 200 customization options, free flight and a world about 36 times the size of the predecessor's. Game*Spark said the story is set 200 years after The Tower of AION, and that content includes solo play, five- and ten-player dungeons and field events, plus monsters that can be unlocked as mounts. 4Gamer.net reported a launch scale test was held on Sept 17 and 19, describing it as short and limited in scope. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Before the full launch, Game*Spark reported that early access for Founders Pack buyers began at 23:00 on Sept 30. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
AION 2 is NC's follow-up to a long-running franchise and is being pushed as a simultaneous global launch rather than a Korea-first release, so its first-day player numbers are an early test of that strategy outside its home market. The reported load on servers and the addition of capacity show how launch-day demand is shaping the service. For readers outside the game's audience, the event is mainly an industry milestone rather than something with wider consequences.
Key facts
- NC started official global service for the cross-world MMORPG AION 2 at 22:00 on Oct 5, 2026. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The game is free to download with some items sold for a fee. [ 3 , 4 ]
- It is playable on Steam and on NC's own cross-platform service PURPLE, which share servers. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The title is built on Unreal Engine 5 and offers eight classes and more than 200 character customization options. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- 4Gamer.net and Game*Spark described the game world as about 36 times the size of the predecessor's. [ 1 , 4 ]
- Game*Spark reported that concurrent players passed 300,000 an hour after launch and that active players topped 400,000 an hour after that. [ 4 ]
- The global version supports Japanese, Korean, English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Russian, with servers in North America, South America, Europe and Japan. [ 3 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- NC began official service for AION 2 on Oct 5 at 22:00. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The game is free to play with some paid items and runs on Steam and NC's PURPLE platform. [ 3 , 4 ]
- AION 2 uses Unreal Engine 5 and offers eight classes and more than 200 customization options. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The game world is described as roughly 36 times larger than that of the previous title. [ 1 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Precisely what the reported 400,000 figure measures, and whether it is comparable to the 300,000 concurrent-player figure reported an hour earlier. Only Game*Spark reports these numbers, describing the first as concurrent connections and the second as active players, without defining either.
- Which platform the 374,098 concurrent players were counted on and how representative SteamDB data is of the whole service. The figure comes from a single outlet citing SteamDB and covers only the Steam version, not PURPLE.
- How the pre-launch Launch Scale Test was run, beyond the two dates given. Only 4Gamer.net mentions the test and its dates, and it says the test ran for short periods with restrictions.
- The location of the launch or of any announcement by NC. No document names a city for the company or the event.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- On Sept 30, early access opens for players who bought the Founders Pack, ahead of the full launch. [ 4 ]
- On Oct 5, 4Gamer.net publishes a play report based on a launch scale test held on Sept 17 and 19. [ 1 ]
- On Oct 5, NC starts official global service for AION 2. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Concurrent players pass 300,000, one hour after the service opens. [ 4 ]
- Active players exceed 400,000, two hours after the service opens, in the early hours of Oct 6. [ 4 ]
- Game*Spark reports SteamDB figures of 374,098 concurrent players on the Steam version and says the number is still rising. [ 4 ]