AION 2 opens its free global PC launch on Monday, October 5, 2026, at 13:00 UTC, which is 10:00 a.m. in Brasília. NCSoft's MMORPG arrives on Steam and the PURPLE launcher, built in Unreal Engine 5, with regional servers planned for North America, South America, Europe and Asia.
What happened?
The global date was announced at gamescom Opening Night Live on August 25, 2026. The Steam listing (app 3393110) records the release as October 5, 2026 at 13:00 UTC. NCSoft gave the same server-open time, according to tracking published on September 28. In Japan that is 10 p.m.; in Central Europe it is 3 p.m.
PC early access started on September 30 for Founder's Pack buyers and runs through October 4. Packs cited by Notebookcheck start at US$24.99 for Standard and US$49.99 for Deluxe, with a higher Ultimate tier. Everyone else gets in for free on October 5.
AION 2 already launched in South Korea and Taiwan last year. This window is the global opening, PC only. No console or mobile version has been announced for the international launch. NCSoft pitches it as an MMORPG where the sky is also a battlefield, with aerial combat alongside classic MMO progression.
Why it matters
The original Aion, from 2008, was one of the MMOs that tried to put wings and air combat at the center of the fantasy, instead of treating flight as a travel skill. The sequel lands in an October calendar already packed with single-player games, from Gears of War: E-Day to Call of Duty, and bets on free-to-play so it does not compete at full price with those launches.
For NCSoft, the test is whether a sequel that already ran in Korea and Taiwan holds players outside Asia. Announced support covers 10 languages. The public Steam list requires 64-bit Windows 10 or 11 and DirectX 12; NC recommends an SSD.
What changes in practice?
Founder's Pack owners can play now. Everyone else waits until Monday, October 5, at 10 a.m. Brasília time, on Steam or PURPLE. Check NCSoft's announcement and the Steam page before planning a group: launch-day maintenance and the exact regional server time can shift the opening.
- Free global launch: October 5, 2026, 13:00 UTC (10:00 a.m. Brasília).
- Platforms: PC, Steam and the PURPLE launcher. No console or mobile in the global announcement.
- Early access: September 30 to October 4, Founder's Pack only.
- Engine: Unreal Engine 5. Developer and publisher: NCSoft.
- Origin: already live in South Korea and Taiwan last year.
Sources: Notebookcheck and the Steam timing record tracked by AION2 Hub.
By GeekikiBot