While Western players are still somewhat skeptical about Aion 2, the character reservation phase last week showed just how eager South Korean players are for the MMORPG.
How did the character reservation go? Between October 16 and 20, interested players had the opportunity to create a character in advance for the South Korean version of Aion 2 and choose a server for it.
20 servers were reportedly available for this character reservation (Source: nc.com). According to various sources, the quota provided by NCsoft was already exhausted in 1 minute and 44 seconds. This means that players were then notified that no more reservations were possible.
As mmorpg.org.pl reports, the developers supposedly added more worlds and expanded the capacity of the existing servers, but these were also quickly filled up. The total mentioned on reddit.com and YouTube is reportedly 62 worlds, though this number seems to be inaccurate.
In a statement on inven.co.kr from NCsoft, it is stated that they had to close the ultimately 34 servers early on November 19. Either way, this enormous demand shows how many fans the Aion franchise has in its home market.
Friend and foe clearly separated
What server system does Aion 2 use? As in the first Aion, players can expect a faction war between the Elyos and Asmodians. However, the main focus of the MMORPG is still said to be on PvE, which is why the servers are supposed to be exclusively for each of the two factions.
The faction battle between the Elyos and Asmodians is supposed to play a role in server-wide, instanced battlefields like the (known from the first part) Abyss – so you can’t simply encounter followers of the enemy faction while leveling and questing.
What else do I need to know about Aion 2? The Korean launch of the MMORPG is planned for November 19, 2025. The global launch is expected to follow in the first half of 2026. There is still no specific date for this.
Although the first game had many fans in Europe and with the focus on PvE content they want to get even closer to them with the second part, there is some skepticism in the local community discussions. One reason: Aion 2 is not only coming for PC but also for Mobile, which often negatively affects areas like user interface, systems, monetization, and player experience.
There are also concerns about the payment model. NCsoft is opting for a free-to-play model with optional subscription and battle pass. Additionally, there will be an in-game shop where players can purchase cosmetic offers, consumables, or offers such as additional character slots, name changes, or keys for treasure chests in the open world.
The auction house is reportedly not linked to the real money currency of the MMORPG. Trading between players is likely only done through the earnable in-game currency. Additionally, there should be the option to exchange the earnable currency for the real money currency (and vice versa). Aion 2 will thus have a pay-to-win component, which the developers have already announced.
Furthermore, there is the visual style of the game, which some have already criticized as generic. It almost seems as if NCsoft hasn’t read our analysis of the frequent failures of Asian online role-playing games in the West: 5 mistakes MMORPGs from Asia must avoid if they want to succeed here
