In an interview, the developers of Aion 2 discussed the upcoming global launch of the MMORPG. MeinMMO summarizes the most important points for you.
What kind of interview is this? An editor from the Japanese website 4gamer.net spoke with Senior Managing Director So In-Seop and Kim Nam-Jun about the anticipated global launch of Aion 2 in September 2026. The two developers have not only worked on the Aion series but also on various parts of Lineage.
In the interview with the NCSoft representatives, topics relevant to Japanese MMO fans were discussed, as well as those concerning the global launch and the Western version. Below, we summarize the key insights from the conversation.
In Korea, only “super cute” or “super sexy” sells
What stands out in the interview? We find the purely Asian perspective on Aion 2 quite interesting. The Japanese editor highlights, for example, that NCSoft’s new MMORPG will forego mobile-style auto battles and a gacha system, opting instead for a more traditional payment model based on a monthly subscription—which presents a unique challenge today.
The NCSoft representatives explain: They decided against a gacha system because they do not want to implement a random system for monetized item acquisition. Multiple instances of bad luck can quickly lead to frustration and stress. Furthermore, they want to ensure that purchasable cosmetic items are offered at the lowest possible price—the exact prices in the Western version are still unknown.
Additionally interesting: According to the developers, more than 90 percent of Korean players have subscribed to the optional Aion 2 subscription. An absurdly high figure. However, this is not surprising. After all, only with the subscription do you get access to the marketplace, exchange market, and a special shop.
In the Western version, the subscription is expected to cost about 15 US dollars. The first version from Korea, which had multiple subscriptions, was almost twice as expensive.
Moreover, the developers clarify that cosmetic items in Korea only sell if they are “super cute” or “super sexy.” This explains why costumes in Korean online role-playing games are often designed to be so revealing or outrageous. Just a few days ago, the developers confirmed that they do not want to make any adjustments or censorships for the Western version.
And did you know that there is a feature in the character customization for the Korean version of Aion 2 that allows players to sell their own characters for real money? However, this feature might be absent in the global version, as there is a problem to solve: The editor is so powerful that celebrities can be recreated. However, you cannot simply monetize them.
For more on the best genre in the world, check out our MeinMMO YouTube channel. Recently, a video went live in which 6 industry experts discuss the current challenges of MMORPG development:
Aion 2 is set to come to consoles
What else do we learn in the interview? Here are the key insights:
- Aion 2 was first announced in 2018. In 2021, the development was restarted with a new engine, a new gameplay focus, and an adjustment of the resources used. Currently, about 350 people are working on the global launch and weekly content updates.
- Additionally, a console port of Aion 2 is in the works. The mobile version from Korea is not expected to follow in the West even after the global PC launch.
- In terms of content, the versions from Korea and Taiwan have a significant lead—this will remain the case for a while due to regular updates. Regarding other areas like bug fixes and convenience features, however, they want to bring all versions up to a common standard in a timely manner.
The interview emphasizes once again how important Aion 2 is for NCSoft, how differently Asia operates compared to the West regarding monetization and cosmetics, and that the MMORPG could be arriving on consoles in the near future. Or did you find something else particularly noteworthy? Feel free to let us know in the comments! What is still missing are concrete dates for the global launch and early access. By the way: Aion 2 Early Access – How significant is the advantage through founder packages?
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