AION 2 Steam Launch Stats
Every verified number from AION 2's global launch on Steam, from the paid head start on September 30 to the free-to-play release on October 5, 2026.
- Launch-day peak: 397,905 concurrent Steam players on October 5, 2026.
- Early access peak: 171,530 on September 30, 2026.
- No. 1 Steam seller in 12 countries during early access.
- Reviews: 71% positive on October 6, down to 58% (Mixed) from 27,909 reviews by October 13.
Launch timeline
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| November 2025 | AION 2 launches in South Korea and Taiwan |
| Sep 30, 2026 | Global early access begins on Steam and PURPLE for Founder's Pack owners. Steam peak: 171,530 |
| Sep 30 – Oct 4, 2026 | Five-day head start. First wave of servers is reserved for Founder's Pack holders |
| Oct 5, 2026 | Free-to-play global launch. A second wave of launch servers opens to everyone. Steam peak: 397,905 |
| Oct 6, 2026 | NC America announces "400,000-plus" concurrent players |
| Oct 13, 2026 | 297,263 playing on Steam at 15:00 UTC, about 75% of the launch record |
Launch numbers at a glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| All-time Steam peak | 397,905 (Oct 5, 2026) | SteamDB via Gamemeca, Shattered.io |
| Early access Steam peak | 171,530 (Sep 30, 2026) | Gamemeca |
| Rank on Steam most-played, Sep 30 | 9th globally | Gamemeca |
| Rank among 2026 releases by Steam peak | 4th most-played | Shattered.io |
| Rank among South Korean games on Steam | 3rd, behind PUBG and Lost Ark | Gamemeca |
| Steam top-seller rank during early access | No. 1 in 12 countries | Shattered.io |
| Number of servers | Not published | – |
| PURPLE launcher player count | Not published | – |
Founder's Pack prices (early access)
| Pack | Price on Steam | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $24.99 | Five days of early access, Daeva's Campaign Supply Chest, "Vanguard of Atreia" title |
| Deluxe | $49.99 | Standard contents plus cosmetics |
| Ultimate | $99.99 | Deluxe contents plus further cosmetics and a pet |
Early access was only playable on the platform where the pack was bought (Steam or PURPLE). The base game has been free since October 5.
Steam review trend
| Checked | Positive | Rating | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 6, 2026 (Gamemeca) | 71% | Mostly Positive | 9,702 |
| Oct 6, 2026 (Shattered.io) | 66% | Mixed | not stated |
| Oct 13, 2026 (Steam API) | 58% | Mixed | 27,909 |
How the launch compares
NCSOFT's previous global Steam release, Throne and Liberty, peaked at 56,910 during its 2024 early access. AION 2's paid head start reached roughly three times that, and the free launch nearly seven times (Shattered.io, citing Chosun Ilbo).
In Korea and Taiwan the game had already passed ₩100 billion in cumulative sales within 46 days of its November 2025 release, and NCSOFT shares rose more than 14% in the two trading days after global early access began (Shattered.io).
The usual caveat applies: MMORPG launch peaks fall quickly. Eight days after launch the Steam count at mid-afternoon UTC was about 75% of the record. Track the current number on the live Steam charts page.
FAQ
When did AION 2 launch on Steam?
Early access started on September 30, 2026 for Founder's Pack owners. The free-to-play global launch was October 5, 2026.
How many players did AION 2 have at launch?
The Steam peak on launch day was 397,905 concurrent players. NC America said the total passed 400,000, a figure reported to include its PURPLE launcher.
How many players did AION 2 have in early access?
171,530 concurrent players on Steam on September 30, 2026.
How many servers did AION 2 launch with?
NC has not published an exact count. It opened a first wave of servers for Founder's Pack holders on September 30 and a second wave for all players on October 5.
How much were the Founder's Packs?
$24.99 for Standard, $49.99 for Deluxe and $99.99 for Ultimate on Steam.
Why are the Steam reviews mixed?
The share of positive reviews fell from 71% on October 6 to 58% on October 13. Coverage from The Elec and Shattered.io points to monetization complaints as the main driver.
Sources
- Gamemeca, Oct 6, 2026
- Shattered.io, Oct 6, 2026
- The Elec
- Inven Global, Founder's Pack announcement
- ExitLag, early access prices
- AION 2 on Steam
Unofficial fan site. Not affiliated with NCSOFT, NC America or Valve. AION is a trademark of NCSOFT Corporation; Steam is a trademark of Valve Corporation. Player numbers come from Steam's public data.