AION 2: crowds are still flying, but the real test lies ahead

The wings are spread, the servers are busy, and the verdict is still taking shape. AION 2 attracted a substantial audience after its global launch on October 5, but a strong first month and a long life as an MMORPG are different achievements. Atreia now faces the more interesting test: how many people will stay once the launch excitement packs its bags?

How many people are actually playing?

When we checked on October 29, 2026 at 14:28 CET, Steam's official counter showed 195,518 concurrent players. This is a snapshot that changes throughout the day and covers Steam alone. Players using NC's PURPLE platform are excluded.

SteamDB showed a 24-hour peak of 231,472, against the record of 397,905 concurrent players on October 5. The latest daily peak was approximately 42% below that record. This does not mean 42% of all users have quit: these are peaks in simultaneous activity, not a study tracking the same accounts over time.

NC published a broader set of milestones on October 23: more than 6.3 million characters created, 108.2 million hours played, and over 400,000 concurrent players at the global launch. The distinction matters: six million characters does not mean six million different players. Without a platform breakdown, the publisher's concurrency figure should not be added to Steam's record either.

That is substantial traffic for a new online world. The numbers demonstrate interest; they do not measure satisfaction or lasting loyalty on their own. A press release cannot book next week's guild night.

Plenty of interest, plenty of reservations

Steam user reviews remain Mixed. At the time of our check, SteamDB recorded roughly 56% positive reviews. That provides a more measured picture than logins alone: the game can clearly attract attention, but its audience is far from unanimous.

The base game is free to play on Steam and includes in-game purchases. The developer also discloses using AI tools for some icons and Arcana card designs. Purchases and disclosures describe the offering; how much they matter is a personal judgement. Our editorial yardstick remains practical: does progression reward a good evening with friends, or does it start to feel like another shift after work?

What is changing now?

The update released on October 28 in European time reduces selected bosses' offensive stats and increases every class's base health at level 45. Urugugu Canyon and Vakron Sky Island gain Hard modes requiring item level 2700, while Odylium Repository joins the daily dungeon roster.

The direction makes sense: fewer sudden deaths while learning encounters, alongside more challenges for better-equipped groups. That is our interpretation of the changes, rather than a finding from hands-on testing. A boss should test whether your party can cooperate; assembling the party already provides a perfectly adequate patience test.

NC is also addressing the economy. Its notice dated October 29 in European time reported restrictions on 4,651 accounts for violations involving bots, unauthorized software and real-money trading. The number of restricted accounts does not establish what proportion of the overall audience consists of bots.

The next major test is called Ludra

Ludra is scheduled to return on November 4, with new mechanics. Normal difficulty requires item level 2800, while Hard requires 3000; both are due to open together. Login rewards, Twitch Drops and community events accompany the return.

The longer-term question is whether updates like this bring players together into groups that want to return. In our view, AION 2 currently shows enough interest to merit attention, while its Mixed reviews give good reason to treat sweeping promises cautiously. If the wings appeal, you can start without buying the base game. Decide what to spend once you know whether you would return to Atreia without a daily reward waiting for you.

Video: the road to global launch

Watch the official AION 2 video on YouTube for a look behind the global release. The video is in English.

Sources:

• Steam: official current player counter for AION 2
• SteamDB: concurrent players, daily peak, record and user reviews
• NC America: global milestones, October 23 press release
• Steam: official game description and AI disclosure
• NC: October 27/28 patch notes
• NC: October 28/29 account restrictions
• NC: Ludra returns on November 4

Information checked on October 29, 2026; player counts and reviews change over time. This is a news overview and editorial analysis, not a hands-on review. All three images are official NC screenshots from Steam, prepared in a smaller web format.