AION 2 Advanced Access begins on September 30, but not every potential Global player can currently access the game through Steam. With only two days remaining, the AION 2 Steam package is still restricted in 18 countries and territories, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Serbia and Slovakia.
The situation is particularly interesting in Belgium and the Netherlands because NC addressed those countries months ago. The company said it was reviewing local regulatory requirements to make sure AION 2 would be compliant ahead of launch.
September 30 is now almost here, and the Steam restrictions remain.
Which Countries Are Restricted on Steam?
Steam package data currently lists the following 18 countries and territories as places where the AION 2 package cannot be activated:
- Aruba
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba
- China
- Cuba
- Curaçao
- Hong Kong
- Macau
- Netherlands
- Russia
- Serbia
- Sint Maarten
- Slovakia
- South Korea
- Syria
- Taiwan
- Vietnam
Several names on that list are unsurprising. South Korea and Taiwan already operate their own AION 2 services, for example, so their presence does not mean those players have no version of AION 2 available.
Belgium and the Netherlands are much more relevant to the European Global launch.
NC Previously Addressed Belgium and the Netherlands
Back in April, European players noticed that the AION 2 Steam store page was unavailable in some countries. An official NC community representative responded directly and said the company was reviewing local regulatory requirements in Belgium and the Netherlands to ensure the game was fully compliant ahead of launch.
NC did not say which specific mechanic or regulation was responsible, and we should not fill that gap with guesses.
Both countries have well-known regulatory frameworks around paid randomized game mechanics, but NC's statement only refers generally to local regulatory requirements. Until the company provides a more detailed explanation, that is as far as the factual answer goes.
The Netherlands and Belgium Are Still Restricted on Steam
The interesting part is the timing.
AION 2's Advanced Access preload is beginning today, permanent characters arrive September 30 and the full free-to-play launch follows on October 5.
Yet the Steam package still lists both Belgium and the Netherlands among its restricted territories.
There has been no public NC announcement confirming that those restrictions will disappear before Advanced Access.
That does not mean they cannot change quickly. Steam regional availability can be updated without weeks of warning. But with September 30 this close, Belgian and Dutch players should not assume Steam access is guaranteed until the store itself becomes available.
What About PURPLE?
This is where the distinction becomes important.
The 18-country list comes from Steam package data. It does not automatically prove that every one of those territories is blocked from AION 2 through NC's PURPLE launcher.
NC is launching AION 2 Global through both Steam and PURPLE, and our Steam vs PURPLE guide already explains that the two platforms share the Global game service while handling purchases and account entitlements differently.
Players should therefore check availability through their intended platform rather than interpreting the Steam restriction list as a universal list of countries where AION 2 cannot exist.
We would also strongly avoid VPN workarounds or registering accounts under a false country. Regional restrictions can involve payment, account and legal requirements, and circumventing them is a wonderful way to turn launch excitement into a support ticket.
Not Every Restricted Country Has the Same Explanation
Another trap is assuming all 18 countries are blocked for the same reason.
They almost certainly are not.
South Korea and Taiwan have separate regional services. Belgium and the Netherlands have received an explicit regulatory explanation from NC. Other countries may involve publishing, legal, sanctions, commercial or platform-specific considerations.
Without an official explanation for each territory, assigning a reason would simply be speculation.
The useful information is much simpler: the Steam package currently cannot be activated in those locations.
AION 2 Global Is Very Close, but Regional Questions Remain
Regional availability is one of several small pieces of launch information that remain unsettled surprisingly close to Advanced Access. We have already been waiting for the final permanent server list, while players are simultaneously preparing clients, choosing factions and coordinating September 30 groups through our Before You Play checklist.
For most Global regions, none of this changes the launch plan.
But if you are in Belgium or the Netherlands and intend to play through Steam, this is something worth checking before spending the evening staring at a preload button that never appears.
NC said it was working through the regulatory situation. Two days before Advanced Access, Steam is still waiting for the answer.
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