AION 2 release date and launch time
Global launch (free to play), in your time zone (UTC):
- Relative to now
- Working out your time zone...
- In UTC
- Mon, Oct 5, 13:00 UTC
- Official wording
- launching globally on time - at 6:00AM PDT / 15:00 CEST
From AION 2 Will Launch On Time (Oct 5). The global version opened at the same moment in every region; only the local clock differs.
AION 2 release timeline
Each time as NCSOFT gave it in its Steam notices, converted to UTC. Checked Oct 15, 2026.
| Milestone | Start (UTC) | As written in the notice | Notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch Scale Test, day 1 | Thu, Sep 17, 13:00 UTC | Sept 17th, 6AM – 12PM PDT / 15:00 - 21:00 CEST | Launch Scale Test: Pre-download Now! (Sep 16) |
| Launch Scale Test, day 2 | Fri, Sep 18, 19:00 UTC | Sept 18th, 12PM – 6PM PDT / 21:00 - Sept 19th 03:00 CEST | Launch Scale Test: Pre-download Now! (Sep 16) |
| Early Access (Advanced Access) opens | Wed, Sep 30, 13:30 UTC | September 30th, 6:30 AM PDT (13:30 UTC), 30 minutes later than the original 6 AM PDT | Notice about Client Decryption and Early Access Start Time (Sep 30) |
| Maintenance between Early Access and launch | Mon, Oct 5, 05:00 UTC | October 4th at 10PM PDT - October 5th 6AM PDT / 05:00 - 13:00 UTC | Advanced Access Servers (Sep 29) |
| Global launch (free to play) | Mon, Oct 5, 13:00 UTC | launching globally on time - at 6:00AM PDT / 15:00 CEST | AION 2 Will Launch On Time (Oct 5) |
AION 2 Early Access: dates, time and servers
Early Access, which NCSOFT calls Advanced Access, was for Founder's Pack owners. It was planned for Sep 30 at 6:00 AM PDT (13:00 UTC); on the day NCSOFT moved the server opening 30 minutes later, to 6:30 AM PDT (13:30 UTC), while client decryption started on time (Notice about Client Decryption and Early Access Start Time (Sep 30)). Pre-download opened on Sep 28 (Pre-download Available Now (Sep 28)).
Early Access ran on its own servers. They still exist after launch: today the official list has 19 Advanced Access server pairs across 5 regions next to 33 launch pairs, and characters made there can only transfer to another Advanced Access server. Which servers those are is on the AION 2 servers page.
Early Access ended with an 8-hour maintenance from Oct 5, 05:00 UTC, and the free launch followed at 13:00 UTC (Advanced Access Servers (Sep 29)). The Steam player counts of both days are on the AION 2 launch stats page.
AION 2 global release: regions and platforms
NCSOFT announced the global service on Apr 21, 2026 with four server regions: North America, South America, Europe and Japan (Announcing AION 2's Global Release (Apr 21)). The launch FAQ repeats those locations and says the global version is on Steam and NC's PURPLE launcher, with the same content and the same servers on both (Launch FAQ (Sep 30)). In the game the regions appear as Europe, NA East, NA West, Latin America and Asia.
Voice acting is in English, Japanese and Korean; menus and subtitles in English, French, German, Spanish (Spain), Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Japanese and Korean. AION 2 is free to play, with an optional monthly membership, cosmetic items and a battle pass (Launch FAQ).
AION 2 in Korea and Taiwan
Korea and Taiwan have their own version of AION 2, separate from the global one. NCSOFT's launch FAQ says progress from the TW or KR version does not carry over to the global version. The Steam notices do not give that version's release date, so we do not list one here, and its servers are not in the global server list.
AION 2 release questions
Is AION 2 released yet?
Yes. The global version of AION 2 launched on Oct 5, 2026 at 13:00 UTC (6:00 AM PDT, 15:00 CEST) on Steam and NC's PURPLE launcher. NCSOFT confirmed on the day that it would launch on time.
Is AION 2 coming to America?
Yes. NCSOFT's launch FAQ lists server locations in North America, South America, Europe and Japan. The server list has NA East and NA West regions, so players in the US pick one of those.
How do I play AION 2 in the US?
Install it from Steam or PURPLE; NCSOFT's FAQ says the in-game content is the same on both and they share servers. The game is free to play with an optional monthly membership. Pick NA East or NA West as the region when you start.
When did AION 2 Early Access start?
Early Access, which NCSOFT calls Advanced Access, opened on Sep 30, 2026 at 13:30 UTC for Founder's Pack owners, 30 minutes later than first planned, and ran until the maintenance that started on Oct 5 at 05:00 UTC. Its characters stay on separate Advanced Access servers.
Is AION 2 on mobile or console?
Asked about mobile, NCSOFT's launch FAQ answers that the global version is available on Steam and PURPLE, both PC; it names no console version. The same FAQ says progress from the Korean or Taiwanese version does not carry over to the global one.