Somewhere in Atreia, a gold farmer is probably having a very unpleasant week. Not because of the Balaur, an unexpected PvP encounter or a dungeon boss with an unreasonable number of attacks. No, the real danger appears to be coming from NC itself, which has discovered that removing suspicious accounts can become something of a daily routine.
NC has restricted another 9,422 AION 2 Global accounts in its latest crackdown against bots, unauthorized programs and real-money trading. The enforcement action took place on October 14 at 09:00 CEST, bringing the combined total from three recently announced restriction rounds to 24,418.
That is a remarkable number for a game that only launched globally on October 5. It also raises an awkward question: if NC can restrict thousands of accounts every few days, just how large has AION 2's automated farming problem become?
Three Restriction Waves, 24,418 Reported Actions
The numbers have accumulated quickly. NC first announced restrictions against 4,996 accounts on October 11, followed by another 10,000 on October 13. The latest October 14 action adds 9,422 more.
Players following our coverage of the first 4,996 account restrictions will recognise the reasons. NC continues to target automated farming, unauthorized programs, real-money trading and abnormal transactions that interfere with the game's economy.
There is an important distinction, however. These are reported account restrictions, not a confirmed count of individual cheaters or permanent bans. NC has not released a detailed breakdown of the penalties, and there is no indication that every restricted account belongs to a different person.
For commercial gold-farming operations, one individual controlling multiple characters or accounts is hardly an unfamiliar concept. The real-world workforce behind these virtual enterprises may be considerably smaller than the number of accounts suggests.
NC Is Going After More Than Simple Farming Bots
The official notice identifies bot operations, unauthorized macros, prohibited software and activities associated with real-money trading. It also mentions suspicious economic behaviour, which suggests that enforcement is not limited to characters endlessly attacking monsters in the same field.
This matters because AION 2's economy has already undergone substantial changes intended to discourage abuse. Before launch, NC made the controversial decision to disable direct player-to-player trading as an anti-bot measure, forcing normal trading activity through the Market instead.
It was an inconvenience for legitimate players who simply wanted to give a friend some equipment. For gold sellers, however, losing the ability to transfer valuable items directly between characters also removed a convenient distribution method.
And yet, here we are. Three enforcement waves later, NC is still finding thousands of accounts violating its rules. Twenty years of MMORPG history have taught us that gold sellers are nothing if not persistent. Remove one method of transferring virtual wealth, and somebody will inevitably spend the weekend inventing another.
Does This Mean AION 2's Economy Is Getting Healthier?
Not necessarily. It is tempting to interpret 24,418 reported restrictions as evidence that the war against bots is being won, but account totals tell us remarkably little about what ordinary players are experiencing.
NC has not published figures demonstrating that farming spots are less crowded, that suspicious transactions have declined or that Marketplace prices have become more stable. Nor do we know how many restricted accounts may eventually be replaced by new ones.
Those questions matter particularly in a game where Membership, the Market and currency exchange systems play such an important role. If automated farming distorts the supply of valuable materials or in-game currency, the consequences can extend far beyond the unfortunate player who discovers that a gathering spot is occupied by suspiciously tireless characters.
We have previously examined the economic differences between AION 2 Global and the earlier Asian versions. NC has clearly made an effort to address concerns about monetization and progression. Keeping the actual in-game economy under control is another challenge entirely.
Ordinary Grinding Is Still Allowed
One detail worth repeating is NC's insistence that normal gameplay, including long grinding sessions, is not itself grounds for punishment. Spending six hours collecting materials may be questionable from the perspective of your social calendar, but it does not automatically make you a bot.
NC says restrictions follow account reviews under its Operation Policy. The company also distinguishes disciplinary actions from temporary security locks, which may be applied when unusual devices or connections suggest that an account has been compromised.
Players who believe their accounts have been restricted incorrectly can contact AION 2 Global Customer Support to request an individual review.
The Real Test Comes After the Ban Waves
Three large enforcement rounds in four days certainly demonstrate that NC is taking action. What they do not demonstrate is whether the measures are preventing new bot accounts from replacing the old ones.
That will be the more interesting story over the coming weeks. A healthier Market, fewer automated farming operations and less interference with legitimate players would be meaningful results. Another five-digit restriction announcement would merely tell us that the problem is still keeping NC busy.
For now, AION 2's newest conflict continues alongside the familiar struggle between Elyos and Asmodians. The difference is that this particular war is being fought with account reviews, transaction records and enforcement notices rather than swords and spells.
Not quite as spectacular as an Abyss battle, admittedly. But potentially far more important to the game's future.
Source: NC's official AION 2 Global Account Restrictions notices, October 11, 13 and 14, 2026.
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