After years of anticipation since its first reveal, NCSOFT’s Aion 2 is finally nearing release. The game is set to officially launch on November 19, with pre-downloads beginning on the 16th, meaning there is just one step left before you can experience the game.

Of NCSOFT’s recent projects, Aion 2 stands out as its most ambitious, showcasing sweeping upgrades and polish ahead of launch. With the official launch just around the corner, anticipation is high, and fans are eager to play the game at G-STAR 2025.

The sequel to Aion, which will be released under an official numbering title. Here’s everything you need to know — from what’s been revealed so far to what players should prepare before one of this year’s most anticipated launches.

After 160 Weeks at No.1, Aion Makes Its Comeback

Aion 2 is the official numbered sequel to Aion: The Tower of Eternity (2008), the MMORPG that topped Korea’s PC-bang charts for 160 straight weeks.

Aion, which won the 2008 Korea Game Awards, showcased the gameplay features of a global MMORPG, featuring the conflict between the forces of Elysea and Asmodae, alongside action and beautiful customization tailored to the preferences of domestic users. This work also demonstrates that NCSOFT, which was expanding around the Lineage series, has potential in new IPs.

As such, Aion was an IP that NCSOFT cherished alongside Lineage, and the investment in its sequel continued for a long time. To meet sky-high expectations, NCSOFT committed to long-term development following its first reveal.Throughout this process, they aimed to solidify the game's foundation with high-quality visuals using Unreal Engine 5, innovative game design, and a variety of content.

Here, we have created Aion 2 as a complete version of Aion, inheriting the iconic conflict between the Elyos and the Asmodians. Set roughly 200 years after the original, the sequel begins in a world reshaped by the collapse of the Aion Tower and the fall of the Deva.It retains the eight classes and various personalities from the previous game, while the player's experience has been modernized.

NCSOFT has teased Aion 2 as a new-style MMORPG that breaks from the studio’s usual formula.

While MMORPGs are still a popular genre, many have noted that the atmosphere feels somewhat stagnant compared to its heyday. With the upcoming release of Aion 2, which is expected to bring new vitality to the domestic MMORPG market, various information has been shared ahead of the game's launch.

In the global MMORPG market, where there are no new titles that can be considered overwhelming despite the ongoing demand, anticipation is also growing regarding whether NCSOFT can achieve greater success than  Throne & Liberty, which has already delivered positive results.

Aion 2: What’s Changing

NCSOFT has been introducing Aion 2 as a game that possesses both popularity and core gameplay even before the official information was released. It has been dedicated to developing a game that can meet the diverse needs of its fan base.

In fact, since May, NCSOFT has showcased a different direction through live events, distinct from their existing MMORPGs. Unlike many modern auto-play MMORPGs, Aion 2 focuses on manual combat and tactile feedback, using a delayed-judgment, non-targeting-style system to emphasize player control. Like Throne & Liberty, it drops auto-combat entirely — but with even more emphasis on responsive, hand-controlled action.

To this end, it supports various manipulation modes. A center-screen aiming reticle defines Aion 2’s default “lock-and-attack” control style. You can play in a way that allows for greater focus on the action. Here, the mouse cursor appears, and there is also the Aion 1 way, where the camera works and the mouse operates separately. Additionally, you can choose extra options, such as turning off the tracking option to enable attacks and skill usage even while in targeting mode.

Alongside its core PC release, a mobile version of Aion 2 is also planned, aiming to mirror its manual-action focus. This raises thoughts about the potential inclusion of automatic combat. However, as manual action on mobile increases and a lot of fans enjoy it, the development team plans to focus on enjoyable action and controls for mobile, along with manual control action similar to what is expected on the PC.

On the other hand, we are pursuing a content experience that does not lack in any aspect, seeking growth and competition through various content. Both PVP and PvE have been established as points for acquiring crafting and enhancement, allowing players to grow sufficiently even if they focus primarily on one side of the game. The inventory weight limit has been removed, and players can now craft top-tier gear directly.

Aion 2: The Definitive Edition of Aion

Of course, the characteristic rivalry between the factions from the original will be faithfully implemented. The Elyos and Asmodian servers will be separated, allowing players to experience the rivalry through the RvR concept. In addition to this, various ways to engage with the opposing faction will become available.

Another feature from the previous game, flight content, will be further enhanced. Aion 2 is set to introduce fields that are 36 times larger than those of the previous game. You will be able to fly freely anywhere in the expanded area. Movement restrictions from terrain and space have been lifted, greatly increasing freedom of flight and exploration.

This is possible because of the technological advancements that allowed for the implementation of aspects that were impossible in the original work. In fact, the developers have stated that there were many things they wanted to create when making Aion, but were unable to due to technical limitations. About 10 years after the service of Aion ended, there was gradual growth in technology that could address these shortcomings, and with that understanding, the development of Aion 2 began.

That's why NCSOFT refers to Aion 2 as the complete version of Aion. It faithfully implements the original elements while also achieving growth in technical aspects and modern reinterpretation.

The customization system, which was well-received in the previous work, is also a notable feature. You can utilize the unique customization options presented in the previous entry as they are, while also making detailed adjustments in over 200 areas to create your own personalized character. Additionally, by introducing the Style Shop, a place for users to share customization, you can easily apply stylish characters in a preset form.

The revenue model will be centered around a pass-based membership that enhances convenience. The development team directly mentioned concerns about the toxicity of the business model (BM), repeatedly emphasizing that the focus is on membership and appearance. They also confirmed there will be no streamer or influencer promotion tie-ins.

▲ Aion, which enabled various forms of character customization. This feature is also expected to be retained

▲ The revenue model is expected to be centered around passes

 Character Slots Gone in 1:44 — The Hype Is Real

The fact that it is a new title from NCSOFT and the sequel to Aion, which is being released in about 17 years, is certainly enough to attract the attention of both gamers and the market. The server character name reservation event held about a month prior to the release is the most representative example.

On October 16, about a month before the launch of Aion 2, NCSOFT held an event to pre-register servers and character names for Aion 2. The prepared servers included a total of 20 servers, with 10 servers for each Elyos and Asmodian.

However, the event, which was originally scheduled to last more than four days until midnight on the 20th, ended much earlier than expected. The event, which started at 2 PM, attracted so many fans that all 20 prepared servers closed. It took less than two minutes for all the servers to close. NCSOFT quickly opened a second round, which sold out again in 17 minutes. A third round followed, adding extra servers to handle the demand.

The intense interest in AION 2 has extended beyond server events to offline events as well. At G-STAR 2025, NCSOFT is hosting a massive dome-style booth with an entire wing dedicated to Aion 2 and its Cinder City demo area.

In fact, since many gamers gather from all over the country, it really takes a long time to demonstrate a game. Therefore, even if there is significant interest in the game, I was concerned that expectations for the demonstration might diminish, especially since Aion 2 is set to be released a few days after G-STAR ends.

Of course, at the event, the game that garnered the most interest and excitement was Aion 2. As soon as the venue opened, many fans headed to the NCSOFT booth, and queues quickly stretched for hours as fans lined up to play.

The live event, which was announced to be actively communicated from the second quarter of this year, also recorded a significant number of simultaneous viewers, demonstrating the fans' interest.

Get into Aion 2 Faster: Pre-Download Now

With the intense interest, it seems natural that many Players will log in as soon as the game launches. To ensure a smooth launch, NCSOFT is allowing players to pre-download the client and create characters ahead of release.

Pre-download and character customization run from November 16 to November 18 for the PC version. However, the exact timings vary, and there are aspects to confirm regarding how they connect to the previous events.

First of all, the pre-download available on PC starts at noon on Sunday, November 16, and is available until just before midnight, transitioning from the 18th to the 19th. You need to have PC Purple installed, and once the pre-installation opens at noon on the 16th, you can install it from the Purple client.

In the STORE menu of Purple, by clicking on Aion 2 and then selecting Auto-install Request, you can automatically download the pre-download when it becomes available.

The pre-download opens first, with character creation available from 2 PM on the 16th. You can also create a pre-Character. Once you run the game, you will select your race and server and choose your class. After completing this, you will then input your Character name. Once you enter your character name, the pre-creation process is complete.

Build Your Character Early: Pre-Launch Customization Available

You can customize your Character alongside character creation before launch. Players can experiment with the full customization suite to design their unique character ahead of launch.

Character customization will only be available from 2 PM on November 16th until 12 PM on November 18th, when the game becomes playable prior to launch. Since it ends before the pre-download period concludes, be sure to check the end time if you want to customize your character in advance.

Once customized and named, your pre-created character will be ready to play the moment Aion 2 goes live. If you create a character in advance, you will be able to experience the world of Aion 2 before others.

However, character customization and creation is limited to 1 character per account. This is only available through Purple, so it is restricted to the PC version. After creating a character, you will not be able to change the class, character name, customization, or delete the character until the launch.

All 34 servers that were closed during the Character Name Pre-Reservation Event held in October have had their capacity expanded, and 4 new servers have been added. As a result, players can now create a character on servers that were unavailable during the previous event.

Of course, depending on the situation, character creation may be restricted when the server is closed. You might think that this means you won't have time to customize comfortably. However, the official website specifies that character creation can be accessed through the customization window. As long as you have selected your race and server, you can try various customizations without worrying about the deadline.

After selecting a class and determining your character's name, character creation is complete.

If you participated in the Pre-Character Name Reservation Event, you can customize your reserved server and the Character with the confirmed name in advance, regardless of the server closing. However, you cannot change the server or character name at this time.

Aion 2, which is about to be officially released, opens for pre-download and customization. Starting from the 16th, you can begin pre-downloading and creating characters, and now all that’s left is to meet the game in person. After a long wait, players can finally see what Aion 2 delivers when servers open at midnight on November 19.

This article was translated from the original that appeared on INVEN.