Much bigger than Throne and Liberty: New MMO set to be revealed in upcoming livestream
With Aion 2, NCsoft’s next major MMORPG is on the horizon – and expectations are high. Based on recent media and financial reports, the game is set to surpass Throne and Liberty not only in scale but also in technical ambition and financial potential. As the direct sequel to the 2009 classic Aion, the project has been in development since 2018, with a dedicated team of around 300 developers.
CFO Hong Won-jun emphasized that the company is far more confident in Aion 2’s prospects than it was with last year’s Throne and Liberty, which received mixed reviews on Steam. Unlike Throne and Liberty, which is published by Amazon in Western markets, NCsoft plans to handle the global release of Aion 2 independently. This strategy is expected to improve profit margins, even if overall sales remain comparable.
Beautiful visuals, diverse gameplay and a vast game world
Built with Unreal Engine 5, Aion 2 is expected to deliver stunning visuals. A first glimpse of the game’s aesthetic and atmosphere is available in the teaser trailer:
Players can look forward to a mix of classic PvE raids, engaging mini-games and a modern, action-oriented combat system reminiscent of Black Desert Online. For PvP enthusiasts, the realm-vs-realm warfare from the original Aion returns, with two factions clashing in large-scale battles that will form the core of the endgame experience.
Microtransactions included – with a reduced pay-to-win focus
Aion 2 will feature microtransactions, though NCsoft claims its monetization model will be less pay-to-win compared to Throne and Liberty. Given the skepticism among many Western players, it remains to be seen whether these promises will hold up in practice.
Livestream reveal set for May 29
NCsoft is preparing a comprehensive reveal covering the game world, combat system, monetization and other core features. The livestream is scheduled for May 29 at 7:00 AM EDT. The first playtest in Korea is set for June 2025, followed by a full release in Korea and Taiwan in November. A global launch is expected in mid-2026.
Aion 2 is primarily expected to launch on PC, although cross-platform support remains a possibility. Originally conceived as a mobile title, development has since shifted toward PC as the main platform. As of now, there is no official word on whether the game will also be released for PlayStation 5 or other consoles.
Source(s)
YouTube: Canon / AION2, Forbes, This is Game (korean)
