Aion 2
News, coverage and analysis tracking Aion 2 across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Massively OP Podcast Episode 585: BioWare dies, SWTOR lives on
The Massively OP Podcast episode 585 discusses the closure of BioWare by EA, alongside updates on MapleStory Classic World, Dragon Nest Classic, WoW Forever, Elder Scrolls Online Season 2, and EverQuest Legends. The hosts also explore the concept of offline MMOs and spotlight Tower Unite.
Choose My Adventure: Aion 2 might not be remarkable, but it is much more enjoyable than you’d think
This article offers a first impression of Aion 2, suggesting it is more enjoyable than anticipated despite not being remarkable. The author found the leveling experience and minigames to be average but fun, with decent rewards. While not groundbreaking, the game is deemed acceptable for a free-to-play experience, with potential for growth.
Aion 2 quakes in fright as its Ludra raid swoops in next week with free login goodies
Aion 2 is launching its Ludra raid on November 4th, featuring challenges for players to conquer and earn titles. NCsoft is also providing in-game events and login rewards from October 28th through November 17th, including a Lush Leaf Tiara helm and Odyle Energy.
MMO Week in Review: Lament for BioWare
Electronic Arts has officially shut down the legendary studio BioWare, laying off 400 employees in the process. This move has been met with significant criticism, highlighting concerns about venture capital and corporate practices in the gaming industry. Several other MMOs and studios also saw news this week, including updates on MapleStory Classic World, Chronicles of Elyria, and the closure of Zenith.
WRUP: Napoleon Dynamite Online edition
This week's "What Are You Playing" segment features discussions on various games including Napoleon Dynamite, City of Heroes, Aion 2, Final Fantasy Resonance, Warframe, ArcheAge Chronicles, Spooktacular, and Diablo IV. Staff members share their weekend gaming plans and thoughts on different titles, with a bonus question about favorite televisions.
Aion 2's hardest fight is coming back, bigger and better, after being pulled from the free MMORPG's launch
The Ludra raid in the free-to-play MMORPG Aion 2 is set to return on November 4th with redesigned mechanics and new attack patterns. The raid was initially removed shortly after launch due to being defeated too quickly, sparking discussions about potential pay-to-win elements. NC is implementing several in-game events and login bonuses to help players prepare for the relaunch.
Aion 2 infographic shares trivia on PvP kills, characters created, and top three class picks
Aion 2 developers have released an infographic detailing player activity since launch, showing over 108 million hours played and 26 million PvP kills in the first 18 days. The data also highlights Gladiator, Chanter, and Sorcerer as the most popular class picks. Recent updates include new hard mode dungeon difficulties, a new board, and ongoing events.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 584: Old men with old phrases
The Massively OP Podcast episode 584 covers recent MMO news including Funcom layoffs, RuneScape's development changes, and Enshrouded's launch. Hosts also discuss Dungeons and Dragons Online's promotional code, irresistible MMO hooks, and feature Dark Age of Camelot as the MMO Spotlight of the Week.
Choose My Adventure: Aion 2’s routines begin to slowly settle in
The author is beginning to feel the routines of Aion 2 settling in, finding the progression systems and combat to be average despite some initial curiosity. While the game has not revealed all its mechanics, the core gameplay loop is becoming apparent, leading to a sense of predictable progression. Despite the game's average nature, the author remains engaged and is participating in community polls regarding future gameplay choices.
Steam Week in Review: Steam Next Fest has over 8,000 demos, as worthless vibe coded slop levels up
Steam Next Fest features over 8,000 game demos, a significant increase from previous years, with many criticized as low-effort "vibe coded" creations. The article argues that AI tools, particularly Anthropic's Claude Opus, are enabling rapid cloning and decompilation, leading to a proliferation of unoriginal games and concerns about intellectual property theft, potentially harming independent developers.
MMO Week in Review: Funcom’s folly
Funcom has confirmed significant layoffs and the stepping down of its CEO as part of a restructuring effort. The company will now focus on its existing titles, Dune: Awakening and Conan Exiles. This news comes amidst a broader week of MMO updates, including RuneScape halting its Reignited plans and Enshrouded launching its 1.0 release.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 583: I’ve got my Aion 2 of you
The Massively OP Podcast episode 583 covers various MMO topics including Halloween events, the launch of Aion 2, World of Warcraft Forever's promotional efforts and level cap, and the return of Throne and Liberty to NCSoft. The episode also features an MMO Spotlight on The Secret World.
Choose My Adventure: Slowly peeling back the multiple odd layers of Aion 2
The author expresses a mixed but curious sentiment towards Aion 2, finding its blend of K-MMORPG and mobile game elements odd yet intriguing. While initial combat felt boring and the UI cluttered with notification dots, deeper mechanics and potential for engaging gameplay are starting to emerge, prompting a desire for further exploration.
MMO Business Roundup: EU cash shop currency crackdown, Nvidia’s GPU halt, and Steam’s player numbers
This MMO industry roundup covers several key developments: the EU is investigating Activision Blizzard, Mojang, Riot Games, and Ubisoft over cash shop currency practices. Steam has set new player concurrency records, exceeding 43 million users online. Additionally, unconfirmed reports suggest Nvidia is halting production of the RTX 5090 GPU to prioritize AI hardware, potentially increasing prices and making the RTX 5080 the top consumer card.
For the second time this year, Steam has set a major new concurrent user record
Steam has once again broken its own record for concurrent users, reaching over 43.5 million players on Sunday. This marks the second time this year Valve's PC platform has set a new high, with the number of players in-game also reaching a record of over 14 million. Recent popular game launches, including Aion 2 and an update for Deadlock, contributed to the surge.
MMO Week in Review: RuneScape 4, Aion 2
This week's MMO news includes Jagex announcing RuneScape 4, which will operate alongside existing titles. Aion 2 officially launched globally, while Lord of the Rings Online delayed its fall expansion. New World's fate was lamented, and Throne and Liberty confirmed its transition back to NCsoft in November.
Aion 2 unleashes a ban wave for bots and gold farming as the new MMORPG tackles "economy abuse"
NC has banned nearly 5,000 accounts in the new MMORPG Aion 2 for botting, gold farming, and other actions disrupting the game's economy. The developer is actively monitoring in-game activity to maintain balance, with normal play sessions unaffected by these measures.
WRUP: Rejected ideas I have put forth for making our site feel appropriately Halloween-ish edition
The Massively OP community and staff share their weekend gaming plans, with participants discussing titles like Pokemon Go, Lord of the Rings Online, Aion 2, and Diablo IV. The discussion also includes a bonus question about ideal Halloween decorations, ranging from giant skeletons to themed yard displays.
Betawatch: ArcheAge Chronicles talks monetization as World of Warcraft Forever continues to test
ArcheAge Chronicles faces scrutiny over its early access monetization, with the author expressing skepticism due to prior issues like gender-locking. Meanwhile, World of Warcraft Forever's ongoing beta continues to dominate testing news with updates on dungeon XP, RMT bans, and PvP features, overshadowing other titles like Aion 2 and Star Wars Galactic Racer.
MMO Business Roundup: Xbox is ‘back to growth,’ Kotick is on the Skydance board, and Aion 2 misses projections
Xbox is reportedly returning to growth, according to Xbox boss Asha Sharma. Former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has joined the board of Skydance, the company formed from the Warner Bros. and Paramount merger. NCsoft's earnings forecast was lowered due to Aion 2's performance, while Necesse developer Fair Games was acquired by Fireshine Games. Additionally, Gardens Interactive, a studio founded by former Journey and Sky: Children of the Light developers, secured $35 million in Series B funding.
