AION 2 tops Steam charts days before its global release

AION 2 hasn't even officially launched yet, but it is already proving that there is plenty of interest in NCSoft's new MMORPG. The sequel has reached No. 1 on Steam's global Top Sellers chart shortly after its Early Access period began on September 30, putting it ahead of the competition just days before its free-to-play release. There is, however, a small twist to those impressive numbers. AION 2 will be free to play when it officially launches on October 5, so its position at the top of Steam's sales chart isn't based on players buying the game itself. Instead, Steam's Top Sellers ranking is based on revenue, and players can currently purchase Founder's Packs to gain Early Access.

In other words, thousands of players have already been willing to pay for the privilege of visiting Atreia several days early. Although this is something that isn't unheard in the world of MMORPGs, if we consider that the game will soon be available without that upfront purchase, reaching the top of Steam's revenue chart before the actual launch is certainly an interesting way for AION 2 to begin its global adventure.

AION 2 is flying high on Steam

According to NCSoft, AION 2 has reached the top spot in multiple individual markets, while other reports put it at No. 1 in eight countries, including Spain, Brazil, Canada, France, Italy, Poland, Singapore and Thailand. It also reached the top 10 in 21 countries.

AION 2 also attracted a substantial number of players during Early Access. SteamDB figures show that the MMORPG reached a peak of 171,530 concurrent players on September 30. More than 100,000 players are still playing through Steam at the time of writing this article.These figures don't include users accessing the game through NCSoft's PURPLE platform.

Whhat's behind the hype for AION 2?

Those of you who have been playing MMORPGs for a while may remember AION, a game with a disticnt focus on PvP featuring heroes who could fly. AION 2 is a free-to-play MMORPG that expands the world of the original AION with a massive new adventure set 200 years after the events of its predecessor. You can choose between two factions, the Elyos and the Asmodians, create your Daeva, and explore a world 36 times larger than the original while taking part in PvE and PvP battles across land, sky, and underwater environments.

The game features eight classes, including Gladiator, Templar, Assassin, Ranger, Chanter, Cleric, Sorcerer, and Spiritmaster. Alongside a combat system focused on manual controls, positioning, timing, dodging, and skill combinations, the sequel also introduces an upgraded character creator with more than 200 customization options.

AION 2 lets you explore a huge open world with more than 200 dungeons, world events, Rifts, Arenas, Battlefields, and large-scale Realm-vs-Realm PvP. Flight remains one of the defining features of the series, but AION 2 takes it further by allowing players to freely explore the skies and dive underwater. You can also collect mounts, tame monsters, customize your appearance, and take part in numerous activities beyond traditional MMO combat.

The real launch is still ahead

The game's global launch is scheduled for October 5, 2026. Then, AION 2 will become free to play on PC via Steam and NCSoft's PURPLE platform. The global service covers North America, South America, Europe and Japan, with support for eight languages.

The Early Access numbers have already demonstrated that the hype for the game is high. Remember to follow us and check out AION 2 on our website for more information about the game.