AION 2 Early Access (Advance Access): Dates, Packs & How to Get In
AION 2 early access — officially named Advance Access — runs from September 30 to October 4, 2026, five days ahead of the free-to-play launch on October 5, 2026. It is not a free beta and not a lottery: the only way in is buying a Founder's Pack, which Steam and PURPLE sell at $24.99 / $49.99 / $99.99, and every tier includes the five-day head start.
When exactly does it start (and the clock time nobody has pinned down)
Three dates anchor the window. The clock times in the third column are as reported by community trackers — NC has not published an unambiguous start time on every channel.
| What | Date | Clock time (as reported) |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-download opens | September 28 | 6:00 AM PDT / 13:00 UTC / 9:00 AM EDT / 15:00 CEST / 21:00 Beijing |
| Advance Access begins | September 30 | 6:00 AM PDT / 13:00 UTC / 9:00 AM EDT / 15:00 CEST / 21:00 Beijing |
| Full launch (free to play) | October 5 | Time reported as 13:00, time zone undisclosed |
Said plainly: community trackers put the September 30 start at 6:00 AM PT / 3:00 PM CEST, while at least one launch roundup still says no exact time has been announced. Both cannot be right, so this page treats the clock time as reported, not confirmed. We update this table the moment NC posts an official time.
How to get in
- Buy a Founder's Pack — on the Steam store page or PURPLE. Three tiers: $24.99 / $49.99 / $99.99.
- Pre-download the client (opened September 28, 6:00 AM PDT) — do it before the 30th; the client is the slowest part.
- Log in on September 30 with the same account you bought the pack on.
No Founder's Pack means no access. There is no invite code, no friend key, no free path in.
One trap worth naming: buyers on Steam see “Pre-Purchase this edition and play the game starting 5 days ahead of full release” — the edition is what grants access, so the $24.99 tier is enough to be in on day one. Nothing in the two higher tiers changes whether you get in.
Are these servers separate from launch servers?
Yes — and this is the most-searched confusion around the whole period. Community reporting (r/Aion2) has it that early access servers are kept separate from launch servers, precisely because a five-day head start is otherwise unfair to players who start on October 5. Where your character actually lives:
| Server market | Cross-server market |
|---|---|
| Advance Access (Sept 30 – Oct 4) | Separate early-access server set — Founder's Pack buyers only |
| Full launch (Oct 5 onward) | Launch servers open to everyone, free to play |
| Your character | Created on the early-access set, stays there through launch — no migration is announced |
Does progress carry over to launch?
Progress made during Advance Access is intended to persist through launch. That is the entire point of a paid head start, and it is why getting in early is a real advantage rather than a preview.
NC has not published a page-by-page caveat list — if a wipe is ever announced, we will update this page the same day.
Pre-download: when it opens and what people get wrong
Three things people get wrong. First, the download opens well before the 30th — September 28. Second, it is a full client, not a launcher stub, so budget real time and bandwidth for it. Third, starting it on the night of the 29th usually means missing the first hours: install paths, antivirus scans and day-one patches all add friction you do not want at 13:00 UTC.
Disk space and install-path details: the Steam store page lists the current system requirements, including storage. We link rather than repeat them here — that page is the one NC updates.
What to do first (the five-day plan)
“Worth $24.99 or not” is really a question about what five days buys. Here is the checklist:
- Day 1 (September 30): character creation, land grab for a name, run the opening chain to unlock the systems you will grind for the rest of the week.
- Day 2–3: pick your class with the AION 2 tier list, not with vibes — the AION 2 classes hub breaks down all eight launch classes by role and weapon.
- Day 4–5: bank the daily/weekly reset windows that only exist in this period; anyone starting October 5 is permanently five days of progression behind.
- Before you log off each night: check whether the day's updates changed any date on this page.
Is Advance Access worth it?
The honest split. Worth it if you intend to play the game at all and care about the first-week ladder: five days of progression, reset windows and a reserved name are things latecomers cannot buy back. Not worth it if you are still deciding on the game — $24.99 buys five days of progression, not a demo, and it does not refund itself in in-game value.
AION 2 early access FAQ
Is AION 2 early access free?
No. Advance Access requires a Founder's Pack purchase on Steam or PURPLE. There is no free path into the September 30 window — free-to-play begins on October 5, 2026.
Can I start playing AION 2 before October 5 without paying?
No confirmed free path exists. Every route into the five-day head start runs through a paid Founder's Pack tier, the cheapest being $24.99.
Is AION 2 early access the same as the beta?
No. The beta was a time-boxed test on a capped build. Advance Access is live progression on live servers, and what you earn during those five days is intended to persist through launch.
What time does AION 2 early access start in my country?
Community trackers put the September 30 start at 13:00 UTC — 15:00 CEST, 21:00 Beijing time, 6:00 AM PT. NC has not posted an unambiguous official clock time; the conversion table above collects what is reported.
Sorting out the rest of launch week? The AION 2 Twitch Drops guide covers the account link you want in place before the campaign starts, the AION 2 classes overview covers the eight-class roster, and the AION 2 tier list explains how rankings will be built once the servers open.