NCSoft North America has announced a global PC release for Aion 2, the sequel to the 2008 MMORPG Aion, later this year. The game will launch on Steam and NCSoft's Purple launcher with official servers in North America, South America, Europe, and Japan. No exact date has been set, but more details are expected in May.
Aion 2 launched in South Korea and Taiwan late last year, drawing mixed reviews. Players praised its visuals but criticized the monetization model and initial botting issues, which NCSoft said it resolved in subsequent months. The original Aion, released in 2008, once boasted over 7 million monthly subscribers worldwide and helped establish NCSoft as a major MMO developer. NCSoft North America made the global release announcement, highlighting the game's expansion beyond Asia. According to a Steam blog post, the Aion 2 development team plans to share more news in May and engage directly with the community by answering questions. The timing comes amid a competitive MMORPG landscape, where established titles like World of Warcraft continue to dominate in the West. Recent player surges in older games such as Old School RuneScape, Eve Online, and Guild Wars 2 reflect demand for proven experiences, while newer live-service MMOs have faced retention challenges.