There is one particularly important warning for anyone who participated in the recent Launch Scale Test: Steam players cannot simply keep using the Playtest installation. NC has specifically instructed Steam users to uninstall the AION 2 Playtest app and download the normal AION 2 client separately. PURPLE players do not need to perform the same cleanup.
In other words, that 100 GB sitting on your SSD from the test may look like AION 2, smell like AION 2 and contain an alarming quantity of AION 2, but Steam still considers it a different application.
AION 2 Preload Begins at 15:00 CEST Today
NC's latest launch promotion confirms that the Advanced Access pre-download begins September 28 at 6:00 AM PDT. That converts to 9:00 AM EDT, 13:00 UTC, 14:00 BST and 15:00 CEST.
This is only the pre-download window. It does not mean the servers open today.
Founder's Pack owners enter permanent Advanced Access on September 30, followed by the full free-to-play release on October 5. We have covered the complete timeline in our AION 2 Global release date and Advanced Access guide.
NC still has not published a final exact server-opening hour for September 30. Any specific login time circulating before an official announcement should therefore be treated separately from today's confirmed preload time.
Steam Test Players Need to Uninstall AION 2 Playtest
This is the step most likely to catch people out.
After the Launch Scale Test ended, NC explicitly told Steam players to uninstall the Playtest App and download AION 2 separately for Advanced Access. The temporary test client does not convert into the retail game.
If you still have AION 2 Playtest installed, removing it before starting today's preload is the sensible move. Your test progression was wiped anyway, so there is nothing inside that installation worth preserving.
PURPLE works differently. NC says players who participated through PURPLE have no further steps needed as part of the test-to-launch transition.
If you are still deciding which platform to use permanently, our Steam vs PURPLE comparison covers the differences. The important thing is to settle that question before spending money, because Founder's Pack purchases are tied to the platform where they were purchased.
Make Sure You Have at Least 100 GB Available
AION 2's official PC requirements list 100 GB of available storage, with an SSD recommended. We do not yet have a reliable final download-size figure for today's retail preload, which is not necessarily identical to the amount of storage required after installation.
The safest approach is simply to have comfortably more than 100 GB available before pressing Install.
Our full AION 2 PC requirements guide covers the rest of the hardware. The minimum specification starts surprisingly low with a GTX 1050 Ti and 8 GB of RAM, although NC only targets 1080p Very Low settings with that configuration. Recommended hardware moves to an RTX 2070 and 16 GB RAM.
NVIDIA users should also make sure their drivers are current, particularly if they intend to use the game's DLSS 4.5 features.
Who Can Preload Today?
Today's pre-download is being promoted specifically for Advanced Access, which is included with the AION 2 Founder's Packs.
All three Founder's Pack tiers provide access beginning September 30. Players who are waiting for the free-to-play launch enter on October 5.
NC has not yet clearly announced a separate pre-download schedule for players without a Founder's Pack, so free players should not assume today's window automatically applies to them.
That distinction is worth remembering because AION 2 has several overlapping launch dates at the moment. September 28 is preload day for Advanced Access. September 30 begins Advanced Access. October 5 is the full free-to-play Global launch.
Do Not Confuse Preload With Server Opening
Downloading AION 2 today gets the client onto your PC. It does not create a character, reserve a server or allow you to enter Atreia early.
There are still several launch details worth sorting out while the download runs. Decide whether your group is going Elyos or Asmodian, choose your first class and agree on your regional server plans. Our Before You Play checklist covers the things actually worth preparing before permanent characters go live.
Server choice remains particularly important for mixed groups because Advanced Access servers and October 5 Launch Servers work in two waves. Free-to-play friends may be able to join an earlier server later, but only while character creation remains available there.
Your AION 2 Preload Checklist
- September 28, 15:00 CEST: Advanced Access preload begins
- Steam test players: uninstall AION 2 Playtest first
- Steam: install the normal AION 2 retail client
- PURPLE test players: NC says no additional test-client step is required
- Storage: have at least 100 GB available, preferably with extra headroom
- Drivers: update your GPU driver before launch
- September 30: permanent Advanced Access begins
- October 5: full free-to-play Global launch
Delete the Test Client Before It Gets the Last Laugh
Most of today's preparation is wonderfully boring, which is exactly what launch preparation should be. Download the client. Check the storage space. Update the drivers. Make sure you are installing the right application.
The important part is the Steam distinction. The Launch Scale Test client was temporary, its characters are gone, and it will not transform into the permanent version simply because September 30 arrives.
If you played through Steam, remove AION 2 Playtest and install AION 2 fresh when the preload opens today.
Discovering that now is considerably nicer than discovering it while everyone else is creating characters on Wednesday.
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