AION 2 Download: Steam, PURPLE and the September 28 Pre-Download
AION 2 is a PC game — Steam's own description says so in as many words — and there are exactly two places to get it: Steam and NC's PURPLE launcher. Pre-download for the paid Advance Access window opens September 28 at 6:00 AM PDT (13:00 UTC); the servers themselves open September 30.
| Where | Steam or PURPLE — PC only, no console or mobile version |
|---|---|
| Pre-download opens | Sept 28, 6:00 AM PDT / 9:00 AM EDT / 13:00 UTC / 3:00 PM CEST / 9:00 PM Beijing |
| Who can pre-download | Founder's Pack owners — the Sept 30 – Oct 4 Advance Access window |
| Free players | Download from October 5, when the game opens free to play |
| Reserve on disk | 100 GB available space; SSD recommended |
| Cost to download | The client is free; early access is what costs $24.99 |
Where to download AION 2
Option 1 — Steam (PC client)
- Open the AION 2 Steam page. The base game is free to play; the Founder's Pack is listed separately as DLC.
- If you're paying for Advance Access, buy the pack on the same account you'll play on — access follows the purchasing account, not the PC.
- The client installs through Steam like any other game: add it to your library, then start the install. It's a full game download, not a launcher stub.
Option 2 — PURPLE (NC's launcher)
- Download PURPLE from NC's download page and install it.
- Sign in with your NC account.
- AION 2 installs through PURPLE once the launcher is running — there's no separate installer to fetch.
Both routes deliver the same client. Whichever you pick, buy and install in the same place rather than splitting the purchase and the install across two platforms.
Pre-download opens September 28 — start it then, not on the 30th
The window opens September 28 at 13:00 UTC (6:00 AM PDT / 9:00 PM Beijing), two days before the servers. Two mistakes worth avoiding:
- Waiting for the 29th. A full client, an antivirus scan and a day-one patch are not a twenty-minute job. Start it on the 28th and let it run.
- Assuming it's a small launcher. It isn't — this is the whole game.
And if you open Steam before 13:00 UTC and nothing downloads: that's expected. The store page is live, the download isn't.
System requirements and how much space to reserve
Straight from the Steam listing, minimum and recommended:
| Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|
| OSWindows 10/11 (64-bit) | Windows 10/11 (64-bit) |
| CPURyzen 5 2600 / Core i5-10500 | Ryzen 7 3700X / Core i7-11700 |
| Memory8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| GraphicsNVIDIA GTX 1050 Ti (4 GB) | NVIDIA RTX 2070 (8 GB) |
| DirectXVersion 12 | Version 12 |
| Storage100 GB available space | 100 GB available space |
| NoteSSD recommended; at FHD set the preset to Very Low | SSD recommended; at FHD set the preset to Low |
Reserve 100 GB, not “about 100 GB”. Both tiers list 100 GB, and it's available space — if your drive is within 20 GB of full, Windows will let you start and then stall halfway. Also note the download number and the installed number are the same here, so don't plan on saving space by deleting the installer afterward.
Why we're more specific than most pages on this: the official requirement line is Storage: 100 GB available space and it applies to both tiers. Several guides currently say the size is unknown and tell readers to check back — you don't have to.
Phone, tablet, console: there is no other version
AION 2 is PC only. Steam's description says it outright (PC only, on Unreal Engine 5), and there is no global mobile or console client. This matters because search results are full of them:
- The Google Play entry in the results is the Korean release, and sites like Uptodown list AION 2 (KR) — installing those gets you a different game region, not the global servers.
- If you found an “AION 2 APK”, it is not this game's global client. There is nothing to sideload.
- No console version exists either. If you have a low-end laptop, PURPLE and Steam both install the same client and neither has a cloud-play path.
If you see a download link that isn't Steam or NC's own PURPLE, treat it as unofficial.
Download button greyed out or doing nothing — the five usual causes
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Download button missing entirely | You're looking at the AION 2 page, but the pack is on a separate DLC page | Open the Founder's Pack listing — the base game is free and installs with the pack |
| Button present, click does nothing | Pre-download hasn't opened yet (before Sept 28, 13:00 UTC) | Come back at the listed time; nothing is broken |
| “Not available in your region” | Your Steam account region has no AION 2 store entry | Check the pack's regional availability on your own store page |
| Downloaded, but no AION 2 in your library | You're signed into a different Steam account than the purchase | Sign in with the purchasing account |
| Install loops or restarts from zero | Launch Scale Test client still installed | Uninstall the Playtest app, then download the live client — the test build does not update into it |
The last one catches returning testers every time. If you played the Launch Scale Test on Steam, the test app stays in your library and looks like a valid path in — it isn't. Remove it first.
Download FAQ
Is downloading AION 2 free?
Yes. The client costs nothing on either Steam or PURPLE, and from October 5 the game is free to play. What you pay for is the Advance Access window — the Founder's Pack starting at $24.99.
Do I need the Founder's Pack to download?
To pre-download before September 30, yes — the September 28 window is for pack owners. Everyone else can download from October 5. You can install either client, but without a pack you can't log in before the 5th.
Which download is smaller, Steam or PURPLE?
Neither. Both deliver the identical client and the same 100 GB requirement — pick the launcher you'd rather keep open.
Can I download on the 29th and still be in on the 30th?
Usually, but it's the risky option. The client is a full download plus a patch; start on the 28th if you can.
Do the Steam and PURPLE versions share an account?
You sign in with the account you bought the pack on. Beyond that, treat the two launchers as separate installs — don't buy on one and expect the other to grant access by itself.
Downloaded and deciding what to run first? The AION 2 early access guide covers the five-day plan, and the Founder's Pack guide compares the three tiers before you buy.