Early Access & launch: how it works

When does early access start and end?

Early access opened on September 30, 2026 · 14:00 UTC, an hour later than first announced. It ended on October 5, 2026 · 05:00 UTC with a maintenance, and the global launch for everyone followed on October 5, 2026 · 13:00 UTC: the game has been free to play since then.

Official source: “Scheduled Maintenance Sun Oct 4 / Mon Oct 5” (October 4, 2026) · “Advanced Access Servers” (September 29, 2026) · “Early Access Start Time” (September 30, 2026) · “Launch Scale Test Comes to a Close: What's Next?” (September 19, 2026)

Who can play during early access?

At first, only players who own a Founder's Pack. Everyone gets the same five days, whenever they bought the pack, and buying one while early access is running unlocks it right away. Maintenance or patches can shorten the time you can actually play.

Official source: “Early Access: How It Will Work” (July 17, 2026) · “New Product Info: Founder's Pack” (September 28, 2026)

Can I join an early-access server after launch?

Yes, as long as it accepts new characters. The new Launch servers opened with the global launch, and early-access servers stay open to everyone; some servers may limit character creation.

Official source: “Launch Server List” (October 4, 2026) · “[お知らせ] グローバル正式サービスのオープンサーバーのご案内” (in Japanese, October 4, 2026) · “Early Access: How It Will Work” (July 17, 2026)

Do I need to reinstall the game?

On Steam, yes: uninstall the Playtest app and install AION 2 itself, which is a separate app. The PURPLE launcher needs no extra step. If you pre-downloaded, the files are encrypted and unlock on September 30; you do not download them again.

Official source: “Launch Scale Test Comes to a Close: What's Next?” (September 19, 2026) · “Pre-download Available Now” (September 28, 2026)

What happens when my server is full?

You wait in a queue. NCSOFT's notice says that “members in good standing” join a priority queue instead of the general one, without defining “member”, and that the privilege can be taken away from sanctioned accounts. On September 30 NCSOFT asked players waiting for a full server to start on a recommended server instead (server transfers come later). NCSOFT also sent Appearance Change Voucher (Bound) ×1 to make up for the queues.

Official source: “Launch Scale Test Comes to a Close: What's Next?” (September 19, 2026) · “Early Access Queue Time Compensation” (September 30, 2026) · “Information on Server Transfer” (September 30, 2026)

Can I play with a controller, on Linux or on Steam Deck?

Controller: works, but not officially supported. Linux and Steam Deck: not supported (the game may run there, but NCSOFT supports only Windows). AION 2 runs on Windows PC through Steam or PURPLE, with the same content and the same servers on both; link the two accounts only if you want the same characters on both. In Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, set PURPLE's region to “Global” or AION 2 does not appear in your game list. Progress from the Taiwan or Korean version does not carry over.

Japanese notice only RTX 50-series laptops: DLSS Frame Generation can crash the game. Set Vertical sync to On in the NVIDIA Control Panel; if it still crashes with G-SYNC on, turn G-SYNC off.

Official source: “Launch FAQ” (September 30, 2026) · “PURPLE Region Settings for Login in Certain Countries and Regions” (September 30, 2026) · “RTX 50シリーズ Laptop GPU環境でのDLSS Frame Generation利用に関するご案内” (in Japanese, September 30, 2026)

Which servers are there at launch?

106 servers in 5 regions: 38 Advanced Access servers, open since early access, 48 new servers that opened with the global launch on October 5, 2026 · 13:00 UTC, and 20 servers NCSOFT has added since. Each server holds one faction: you pick a region, then a faction, then a server.

• EuropeAdvanced Access: Siel / Israphel · Nezekan / Zikel · Vaizel / Triniel · Kaisinel / Lumiel · Yustiel / Marchutan · Ariel / Azphel · Fregion / Ereshkigal · Meslamtaeda / Beritra · Hithanya / Nemon. Launch servers: Nania / Hadala · Tahavatha / Ludra · Luteros / Ulgorn · Phernos / Munin · Daminu / Odar · Kasaka / Zemurru · Bakarma / Kromede · Tsenka / Quai · Kochi / Baba. Added since: Ishtar / Fafnir · Tiamat / Indnath · Gauss / Agnita · Lamuatan / Atiel · Nathara / Tassin.
• North America WestAdvanced Access: Siel / Israphel · Nezekan / Zikel. Launch servers: Vaizel / Triniel · Kaisinel / Lumiel · Yustiel / Marchutan.
• North America EastAdvanced Access: Siel / Israphel · Nezekan / Zikel · Vaizel / Triniel. Launch servers: Kaisinel / Lumiel · Yustiel / Marchutan · Ariel / Azphel · Fregion / Ereshkigal · Meslamtaeda / Beritra. Added since: Hithanya / Nemon.
• Latin AmericaAdvanced Access: Siel / Israphel · Nezekan / Zikel. Launch servers: Vaizel / Triniel · Kaisinel / Lumiel · Yustiel / Marchutan · Ariel / Azphel.
• AsiaAdvanced Access: Siel / Israphel · Nezekan / Zikel · Vaizel / Triniel. Launch servers: Kaisinel / Lumiel · Yustiel / Marchutan · Ariel / Azphel. Added since: Fregion / Ereshkigal · Meslamtaeda / Beritra · Hithanya / Nemon · Nania / Hadala.

Official source: “Launch Server List” (October 4, 2026) · “Launch Server Matchmaking” (October 4, 2026) · “[お知らせ] グローバル正式サービスのオープンサーバーのご案内” (in Japanese, October 4, 2026) · “Advanced Access Servers” (September 29, 2026) · “New Servers Opening!” (September 30, 2026)

How are Elyos and Asmodian servers paired?

Every Elyos server is paired with an Asmodian server. The enemy players you meet in the Abyss and in the Spacetime Rift come from your paired server. Pairings are temporary: NCSOFT reshuffles them from time to time to keep both sides balanced.

Official source: “Launch Server Matchmaking” (October 4, 2026) · “Advanced Access Server Matchmaking” (September 29, 2026) · “Early Access: How It Will Work” (July 17, 2026)

Can I queue for dungeons with players from other servers?

Yes, within your region. During early access, dungeon matching covers every early-access server of the region. From launch, the pool includes both the early-access and the Launch servers of that region. Friends on different servers can still add each other and party up for dungeons. The notices describe matching by region only; they do not say whether Elyos and Asmodians share dungeon queues.

Official source: “Early Access: How It Will Work” (July 17, 2026)

Who will I fight in the Abyss?

During early access, Abyss matchmaking stays between early-access servers, which also have their own markets and PvP matching. After launch, servers are matched by progress and strength.

Official source: “Early Access: How It Will Work” (July 17, 2026) · “Team Update” (July 17, 2026)

How many markets are there?

Two. The Server Market trades in Kina on your own server and is open from the start of early access. The Cross-Server Market covers the whole region: it will not be open at the start of early access nor at launch, and opens later, once servers have reached a similar stage. NCSOFT will share the details before it opens.

Official source: “Early Access: How It Will Work” (July 17, 2026) · “Team Update” (July 17, 2026)

Do I need a membership to trade?

To buy, yes. Buying on the Market and the Kina–Quna Exchange need an active Membership; without one you can still list items for sale. The Exchange is player-to-player only: the game never lists or buys itself. Direct trades between two players are unclear for now: the September 19 notice says they are disabled as an anti-bot measure, while the membership notice still lists Personal Trade as a benefit. We will update this answer once NCSOFT clarifies.

Official source: “Team Update” (July 17, 2026) · “New Product Info: Special Quai Membership” (September 28, 2026) · “Launch Scale Test Comes to a Close: What's Next?” (September 19, 2026)

What does the Special Quai Membership cost and give?

$14.99 per 30 days, sold in game from September 30, 2026 · 14:00 UTC. It unlocks buying on the Market, the Kina–Quna Exchange, Remote Storage, the Wind Breeze Merchants shop, Personal Trade (5 per day, and the other player needs a membership too), a higher Odyle Energy cap (560 → 840 in the game client) and a cap of 21 instead of 12 for the Shugo Festival Reward Key. It also changes reward cubes: without a membership you can inject Odyle Energy once when opening Expedition and Transcendence cubes; with one, twice, Sanctuary cubes included (the current game client still allows one injection per cube). The notice's benefit table still lists a World Market, but its change log removed the World Exchange from the membership, and the Cross-Server Market is not open yet. The membership covers every character on the server where it is active, not your other servers. You can buy it when fewer than 60 days remain, at most 3 times per server per month; each purchase adds 30 days, counted from when you click Activate.

Official source: “New Product Info: Special Quai Membership” (September 28, 2026)

What can you buy with real money?

The game is free to play. Kina is earned by playing and spent on the Market. Quna is the premium currency: it buys shop items, unlocks the premium Daeva Pass track and buys Kina through the Exchange. NCSOFT says shop cosmetics give no combat advantage and shop consumables can also be earned in game. The Daeva Pass is per character, with a free Standard track and a Premium track paid in Quna.

Official source: “Team Update” (July 17, 2026)

Which payment methods work on PURPLE?

Apple Pay was added on September 23 in 56 countries; Cash App Pay is delayed. Your first card payment may ask for a one-time 3-D Secure check through Xsolla, the payment provider.

Official source: “Announcement Regarding the Addition of New Payment Methods (Apple Pay / Cash App Pay)” (September 24, 2026) · “One-time Verification Process” (September 26, 2026)

What is in each Founder's Pack?

Three tiers, and every tier includes the five days of early access and 30 days of membership (added on September 28). Prices in USD:

• Standard · $24.995-day early access, Daeva's Campaign Supply Chest (Bound) with starter consumables, the title “Vanguard of Atreia”, 30 days of Special Quai Membership
• Deluxe · $49.99Standard + the Ascended Daeva armor skin set and the Eternal Sun weapon skin chest
• Ultimate · $99.99Deluxe + Daeva's Styling Chest (Customization Voucher, 7-day Appearance Change Voucher), the Moonlit Aria skin set, the Black Dragon pet and the Blazing Sun Wings
• Upgrades (PURPLE only)Standard → Deluxe $25.00, Standard → Ultimate $75.00, Deluxe → Ultimate $50.00

Official source: “New Product Info: Founder's Pack” (September 28, 2026)

Which rules apply to the Founder's Pack?

One pack per account: buying a second one gives nothing extra and does not extend early access. The pack works only on the platform you bought it on (Steam or PURPLE), and both platforms play on the same servers. Its items cannot be traded, deleted or stored, and the title, skins, pet and wings are cosmetic only. Its sale ended on October 5, 2026 · 15:00 UTC, two hours after the global launch. Refunds: any time before release; after release within 14 days if you played less than 2 hours, otherwise the Steam or PURPLE refund policy applies. If the cosmetics change made you buy a higher tier on Steam before the sale ended, NCSOFT does not want you to pay twice: ask Customer Support to refund the lower-priced pack on the same account (the process comes in the follow-up notice).

Official source: “New Product Info: Founder's Pack” (September 28, 2026) · “Jump Into Advanced Access Now!” (September 30, 2026) · “Founder's Packs Cosmetics Soon Available On All Characters” (October 3, 2026)

Where do I claim the Founder's Pack items?

Founder's Pack cosmetics (the title, the armor and weapon skins, the pet and the wings) will become usable on every character of your account, on any server: NCSOFT announced the change on October 3 and will finish it after early access ends, with a follow-up notice saying how and when. The 30-day membership, Daeva's Campaign Supply Chest (Bound) and Daeva's Styling Chest stay one-time rewards under their current rules. The pack is bound to your account and platform, its membership only starts when you click Activate, and a membership covers only the server where it is active.

Official source: “Founder's Packs Cosmetics Soon Available On All Characters” (October 3, 2026) · “New Product Info: Founder's Pack” (September 28, 2026) · “New Product Info: Special Quai Membership” (September 28, 2026)

Will there be server transfers?

Yes: the Server Transfer service starts on October 14 and is free at first. Characters move between servers of the same faction, and characters on early-access servers can only move to other early-access servers, not to the servers that open at launch.

Official source: “Information on Server Transfer” (September 30, 2026) · “Early Access: How It Will Work” (July 17, 2026)