The developers of Aion 2 have now revealed the payment model for the global version of Aion 2 in detail. Various points immediately provoke outraged comments from the MMORPG community.
What is the payment model of Aion 2? Exactly that is what the NCSoft representatives have revealed in detail for the global version of Aion 2. Here are the key points – on page 2 we will provide even more details:
- Aion 2 relies on a Free2Play model, so you can download and play the MMORPG for free.
- Those who purchase a founder’s package receive some cosmetic items and consumables as well as 5 days of early access. All information about prices and dates can be found here: Aion 2 Early Access – How significant is the advantage of the founder’s packages?
- Aion 2 uses the earnable currency Kina (mainly needed for the marketplace) and the purchasable premium currency Quna (which is used in the shop and for the Battle Pass).
- The optional subscription costs 15 US dollars (there is no Euro price yet) and offers some gameplay bonuses as well as access to the marketplace, exchange, and a special shop.
- In the marketplace, players trade their items, which they can buy and sell for Kina.
- Through the exchange, you can convert Kina to Quna and Quna to Kina.
- In an in-game shop, cosmetic items such as clothing, wings, and companion animals, as well as (earnable) consumables can be purchased.
- There will be a Battle Pass with both a free and a paid path. The Battle Pass counts for the character that purchased it, not for the entire account. Through the Battle Pass, you can earn cosmetics, materials for upgrades, in-game currencies, and other items.
All in all, this likely means: The actually optional subscription is essentially mandatory for frequent players. Those who invest money in Quna can purchase everything directly from the auction house, thereby gaining a temporal advantage in character progression in PvE.
In all instanced PvP content, the equipment will automatically be raised to a comparable level. There, the Pay2Progress factor is unlikely to come into play.
What we like: Those who earn enough Kina can exchange enough Quna through the exchange to pay for the Battle Pass, for example. However, in our opinion, it should count for the entire account and not just for one character.
“If this is Pay2Win, then WoW is also Pay2Win”
How does the community react to the new information? Although the new payment model of Aion 2 is not as aggressively designed as the version that went live last year in Asia, parts of the Western MMO community remain critical.
- joemeat summarizes it on Reddit : “Their business model: Yes. They have everything… free content, subscriptions, cash shop, Battle Pass…”
- BDO-Issue-Again writes on Reddit: “We just want a good MMO with a subscription, without a cash shop and with regular expansions at a reasonable price. I don’t want another casino simulator with Pay2Win garbage and artificial barriers that can only be overcome with money.”
- MindlessLie30 is disturbed by another point on Reddit: “I still don’t understand why you have to pay 15 dollars to trade with others. The justification given is that they want to “prevent bots”, but from what I hear about the launches in Taiwan and Korea, there are still plenty of bots.”
- laz85 adds on Reddit: “That the Battle Pass is tied to a single character is the rotten cherry on top of this business model.”
- supapumped argues on Reddit: “If this is Pay2Win, then WoW is also Pay2Win.”
How do you rate the payment model for the global version of Aion 2? Do you find the model fair or would you wish for specific changes? Feel free to let us know in the comments! If you want to start in September, be aware that you should take care of something now: You can secure the first special mounts for Aion 2 right now
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