We have spent more time discussing AION 2's launch clock than anyone should reasonably spend discussing a clock, but the guessing is finally over.
AION 2 Advanced Access begins today, September 30, at 13:00 UTC, which is 15:00 CEST in Central Europe. The full free-to-play launch follows at the same hour on October 5. That finally confirms the timing we previously spotted through Steam when we reported that AION 2 appeared to be heading for a 13:00 UTC global launch. At the time, the date was official but the exact hour was not. Now the calendar can stop looking suspiciously unfinished.
AION 2 Advanced Access Starts at 13:00 UTC
For players entering through a Founder's Pack, September 30 is effectively launch day. Characters created during Advanced Access are permanent, progression continues into the full release, and all three Founder's Pack tiers provide the same five-day head start. If you are still deciding whether that is worth paying for, our complete AION 2 global release and Advanced Access guide covers the launch dates and what the packs actually include.
The important times are now straightforward:
- US West Coast: 6:00 AM PDT
- US East Coast: 9:00 AM EDT
- Brazil: 10:00 AM BRT
- United Kingdom: 2:00 PM BST
- Central Europe: 3:00 PM CEST
- Eastern Europe: 4:00 PM EEST
- Japan: 10:00 PM JST
The same schedule applies to the October 5 free-to-play opening, which should make the second launch considerably easier to plan.
Do Not Forget About the Encrypted Preload
There is, however, one small piece of traditional PC gaming theatre standing between players and Atreia. The AION 2 preload is already available, but the downloaded files are encrypted and must be decrypted before the client can run. That does not mean downloading the entire game again, but the process can still take time depending on your storage and PC hardware.
In other words, having the game downloaded does not necessarily mean you can press Play at 14:59 and glide gracefully into Atreia sixty seconds later. We have also looked specifically at why the encrypted AION 2 preload could delay some players at Advanced Access.
Steam users who participated in the Launch Scale Test should also make sure they are using the correct client. NC instructed test players to uninstall the separate Playtest application and install the normal retail version instead. PURPLE users have a simpler transition, although anyone still choosing between the two platforms should read our Steam versus PURPLE comparison before buying anything, since Founder's Pack purchases are tied to the platform where they are made.
Choose Your Server Before the Gates Open
Launch preparation is not only about downloading files. AION 2 separates Elyos and Asmodians onto different servers and then pairs those servers for cross-faction activities such as the Abyss. NC has already revealed the first Advanced Access matchups, so groups planning to play together should settle their faction and server choices before character creation begins rather than discovering five minutes later that half the guild has wandered into the wrong version of Atreia.
That is particularly important because AION 2's global server structure covers Europe, North America, South America and Asia, and the opening days are likely to be busy. Our AION 2 Before You Play checklist also covers factions, classes, rewards, storage requirements and the other small decisions that are considerably more pleasant to make before a login queue appears.
This Time the Characters Stay
The Launch Scale Test was useful, but everything there was temporary. Today is different. Levels matter, items matter, character names matter and the strange creature you spend twenty minutes perfecting in the character creator is now somebody you may still be staring at hundreds of hours later.
For Founder's Pack owners, AION 2 starts today at 15:00 CEST. Everyone else joins the same adventure on October 5.
After months of trailers, Korean updates, tests, monetization debates and launch preparation, we have finally reached the wonderfully simple part.
Now we actually get to play it.
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