Aion 2 Takes Flight: NCSoft's Ambitious Sequel Aims To Redefine The MMORPG Genre

NCSoft is getting ready to return to the MMORPG spotlight with Aion 2, the long-awaited follow-up to its cult classic Aion from 2008. The Korean studio recently held a livestream, where they shared a lot of new information and gameplay footage. This gave fans the best glimpse yet of the game's world, mechanics, and objectives. 

Even though there is still some doubt because NCSoft has had a rough time making money in the past, Aion 2 could be the evolution fans have been waiting for a long time. The developers of Aion say that Aion 2 is what the first game was always meant to be: a big MMORPG with free flight, big battles between factions, and a lot of ways to customize your character.

From the ground up, it's primarily designed for PC, but an optional mobile client is also available for companion play. You read that right—this is not a mobile port that looks like an MMO. The game takes place 200 years after the Tower of Aion fell. It takes place in a broken world where Elyos and Asmodians are still alive, but the graphics and story have been changed.

The old-school faction war is back, but it will be played out differently. Instead of open-world battles between factions, Elyos and Asmodians will play on separate servers, and PvP will happen through structured matchmaking and dimensional invasion events. This change from the original's random cross-faction raids may disappoint PvP purists, but it also makes room for more balanced, planned conflicts.

Aion 2's combat was both one of the best and worst things about the original Aion. It was heavily advertised, but it wasn't really possible. It looks like NCSoft is putting even more effort into making real aerial freedom a reality. It is said that Aion 2's world is 36 times bigger than the first game's, and you can now fly anywhere.

Players can fly freely over land, sea, and sky, which makes exploration not only dynamic but also truly vertical. This could make a big difference. Fighting, exploring, and getting around have all been possible only by flying, which is something that not many MMOs have done well, if at all.

Gladiator, Templar, Assassin, Ranger, Spiritmaster, Sorceress, Cleric, and Chanter are the eight classes that you can play when Aion 2 comes out. These include the usual tank, DPS, and support archetypes, but the developers stressed a rebalanced approach that puts more value on manual skill than automation.

Notably, the game will not have any auto-combat, auto-path, or auto-play features. This is a bold move in a market that is becoming more and more of an idle MMO. It is also being developed to add rear hit detection, which will enhance tactical positioning in battle.

The trailer showcased combat animations that were a bit stiff and tab-targeted, but the developers claim the system is "action-focused" and represents a significant improvement over the first one. Making characters will also get a huge boost, with over 200 features that can be changed and fun options like chibi and big-headed avatars. People who liked how customizable characters were in the first game—which was thought to be one of the best in MMOs at the time—will feel right at home here.

Aion 2 isn't just for PvP players. The second game will feature a substantial amount of PvE content, including solo dungeons for casual players, cooperative dungeons for 4 to 8 players, and dynamic world events. The Temple of Fire, a popular dungeon, is coming back, along with stretching weapons, which are ridiculously big gear that gets much smaller when used. Both melee and ranged classes can now use these weapons.

The difficulty of dungeons has also been updated. Dungeons can be set to "easy mode," which has guided quests and boss fights that are meant to be easier to handle. If a player disconnects or leaves in the middle of a dungeon, the system will now find a replacement without having to break up the group.

One of the biggest surprises from the livestream is that Aion 2 can be played on multiple platforms. Although the PC is the primary platform, a separate mobile version will be available, featuring its own interface and design. This version is intended to be a supplement rather than a replacement. There are a lot of MMO veterans who are worried about mobile-first development. This should help ease their minds.

Even better, NCSoft says that Aion 2 will not have any pay-to-win systems, loot boxes, or gacha systems. You can only get skills and gear by playing the game, and mounts are dropped by monsters in the open world instead of being bought in the cash shop. If the developers keep their word, Aion 2 could go against a troubling trend in MMORPGs that rely too much on sneaky ways to make money.

Aion 2 still has a long way to go, but the early signs are good. It could make a name for itself in the modern MMO genre with its bigger world, truly free flight, move away from automation, and appreciation of player skill and hard work.

NCSoft is looking for people to take part in a focus group test right now. You can apply until June 12, and the test will be on June 28. Players who want to join can do so through the official website. It's still too early to tell if Aion 2 will live up to its promise, but for now, hope is flying high on the wings of Elyos and Asmodians.