AION 2 Download and Preload Guide

Official launch status

Milestone	Confirmed information
Advance access	Live now for eligible Founder's Pack owners
Global launch	October 5, 2026
Platforms	Steam and PURPLE on PC
Storage	100 GB available; SSD recommended
Release-client status	Available now through Steam and PURPLE
Test-client transition	Steam users must uninstall the Playtest App and download AION 2 separately; PURPLE test users need no additional cleanup step

Do not trust unofficial preload clocks, download links, or files. Use the Steam store/library or the official PURPLE client only.

Advanced Access: the official Steam and PURPLE release clients are available. If Steam remains on encrypted files, restart Steam once, confirm sufficient SSD space, then use the built-in file verification instead of reinstalling unofficial files.

Steam or PURPLE?

Steam

Best for an existing Steam library

Wishlist or purchase through the official Steam page, then install from your Library when the download becomes available. If you joined the scale test, uninstall the separate Playtest App first; it is not the release client.

PURPLE

Best for NC's own ecosystem

Install the official PURPLE launcher and confirm that you can sign in before launch traffic increases. NC says PURPLE scale test users have no additional cleanup step after the test.

Choose one platform deliberately. Do not assume purchases, characters, wallet balances, or account links can be moved between ecosystems unless NC confirms it.

Prepare before the download

Reserve more than 100 GB

The official requirement is 100 GB available. Leave additional working space for downloading, unpacking, updates, and temporary files.

Use an SSD if possible

Steam explicitly recommends one. Check that the selected library or install folder is on the intended drive.

Update the launcher now

Open Steam or PURPLE, sign in, install launcher updates, and confirm your account security before release day.

Keep recovery access ready

Verify your email, two-factor method, and password recovery path before servers open.

Preload is available now

Start from the official game entry in Steam or PURPLE. Confirm the publisher, install location, and required space before accepting. Let the launcher finish both downloading and verification. The encrypted files began decrypting at the original September 30 13:00 UTC time. NC revised server opening to 13:30 UTC; decryption is not a reinstallation and its duration depends on your PC.

Founder's Pack players: the important deadline is advance access on September 30. Preload now so download speed and decryption time do not consume the opening window.

Steam's Playtest App and the release game are separate downloads. Do not keep the test client expecting it to update into the live client.

Download failure decision tree

Download will not start	Check official service status, account eligibility, region, and whether the release download is actually open.
Download repeatedly stops	Check free space, launcher permissions, security software notices, and connection stability before reinstalling.
Files verify but game will not launch	Restart, verify the selected platform account, update required drivers, and capture the exact error.
Login fails after launch	Separate account, maintenance, queue, and network errors; do not repeatedly reset credentials.

Reinstall only after verification and simpler checks fail. Repeated downloads waste time and can hide the original error.

Safe troubleshooting order

If the install button is missing, first restart the launcher, confirm the correct account and region, check the official store status, and wait for the announced availability window. If a download stalls, check free space, pause and resume once, restart the launcher, then use its built-in file verification.

Do not disable security tools permanently, download third-party installers, or use unofficial DLL and “speed booster” packages.