AION 2 Field Guide
Launch window

AION 2 Release Date and Launch Time

AION 2 is out of closed testing. Founders Pack holders have been in since September 30, 2026, and the global free-to-play launch unlocks on October 5, 2026 at 13:00 UTC on both Steam and PURPLE.

Launch statusOpens October 5, 2026, 13:00 UTC
  • Founders Pack early access: began September 30, 2026 at 13:00 UTC and is open now.
  • Global launch, free to play: on Steam and PURPLE.
  • Season 1 closes: December 16, 2026, with rewards claimable into early 2027.

Every time on this page is UTC rather than local midnight, which is why the date on your calendar can be a day off. The release date page converts 13:00 UTC for each region.

The AION 2 launch timeline in one table

DateWhat happensWhy it matters
September 17-18, 2026Launch Scale TestPC players joined through Steam and PURPLE to stress the servers before the real opening.
September 30, 2026Founders Pack early accessFounders were let in five days early at 13:00 UTC, which is why guides already exist for systems that a brand new player has not seen yet.
October 5, 2026Global launch (free to play)Servers open to everyone at 13:00 UTC on Steam and PURPLE. No purchase is required to play.
December 16, 2026Season 1 closesSeason 1 runs from September 30 to December 16, with rewards claimable into early 2027.

What time does AION 2 unlock where you live

The launch is anchored to 13:00 UTC rather than to local midnight, so the date on your calendar can be a day off. European players unlock in the evening of October 5, North American players unlock in the morning of October 5, and players in eastern Australia cross into October 6.

RegionLocal unlock time on October 5
UTC13:00
London (BST)14:00
Central Europe (CEST)15:00
US East (EDT)09:00
US Central (CDT)08:00
US West (PDT)06:00
Brazil (BRT)10:00
Taiwan (CST)21:00
Korea and Japan (KST / JST)22:00
Sydney (AEDT)00:00 on October 6

Do you need the Founders Pack to play

No. AION 2 is free to play at global launch, and the Founders Pack buys time and cosmetics rather than access. The practical value of the pack is the five day head start plus whatever currency and appearance items the tier includes. If you do not own one, the only thing you have lost is five days of progress, and the servers are far more stable after the first weekend than they are during it.

What to do in the first hour of launch

  1. 1
    Install and patch before the window opensPreload on Steam or PURPLE ahead of October 5. The download is the single most common reason players miss the first hour, and patching after the rush starts is slower, not faster.
  2. 2
    Decide faction before you log inThe choice is locked in per server and it decides which starting zones, field bosses and gear names you will see. If friends are playing, match them. Read the faction comparison before you commit.
  3. 3
    Create the character you actually want to levelLeveling a first character to 50 is a 10 to 14 hour job for an experienced player and longer for a new one, so pick a class you enjoy rather than the one a tier list puts first.
  4. 4
    Check the server before you investPopular servers enforce character creation limits. If creation is blocked, the fix is usually a different world rather than a retry, and transfers are limited, so choose deliberately.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

How long until AION 2 launches?

AION 2 unlocks at 13:00 UTC on October 5, 2026. The countdown at the top of this page tracks the remaining time against that exact timestamp and switches to a live status the moment the servers open, so the answer stays correct after launch instead of counting upwards.

Is AION 2 free to play at launch?

Yes. The global launch on October 5, 2026 is free to play on Steam and PURPLE. The Founders Pack grants five days of early access and extra items, not permanent access.

Does AION 2 launch at midnight in my timezone?

No. The servers open at 13:00 UTC on October 5, 2026, which is 09:00 on the US East coast, 15:00 in Central Europe and 22:00 in Korea and Japan.

Is AION 2 the same game as AION?

No. AION 2 is a separate Unreal Engine 5 MMORPG set 200 years after the original AION, with its own classes, progression and client. Progress from the first game does not transfer.

What if the servers are down on launch day?

Expect extended maintenance on the first day of any MMO launch. Check the official Steam news page and the in-game launcher for the current status before assuming something is wrong with your install.

Sources checked for this page