On June 28 and 29, 2025, NCSoft held the first Focus Group Test (FGT) of Aion 2 at its R&D center in Pangyo, South Korea. Despite a strict confidentiality agreement (NDA), impressions have started to leak, with several testers ranking this test above other recent betas.
https://discord.gg/aion-2
The information comes from trusted community sources, KakaoTalk groups, and participant videos. Although subjective and limited by the NDA, it offers a detailed look at a game nearly ready for global launch.
Monetization and P2W
- Cosmetics shop: Outfits, wing skins, and mounts purely aesthetic.
- Wings: Forged through grinding; minimal upgrades, different types affect flight power.
- Instant revive: Option for instant revival in dungeons and the Abyss using diamonds (premium currency).
- Action points: Energy system for dungeon runs; players can buy extra points with diamonds for additional attempts.
- Gacha / Loot Boxes: “Minimized” according to devs; present but without causing obvious player disparities.
- CLARIFICATION: The “2 trillion won” figure refers to the total revenue of the Aion IP, not exclusively Aion 2.
Customization and Skins
The character creator scored 5/5 thanks to more than 200 options for facial features, body and accessories. However, the quality of the leaked outfits was deemed subpar, marking a key area for improvement before launch.
Gameplay, UI and Combat
- UI: Very similar to Throne and Liberty, with a customizable HUD and a 10-slot skill panel.
- Skill slots: 8 core slots (4 main, 4 “Stigma”), plus linked skills and dynamic dodge.
- Camera modes:
- Action mode: Over-the-shoulder camera for PvE—immersive but limited visibility in RvR.
- Classic mode: Target-locking and traditional click, recommended for PvP and large-scale battles.
- Combat system: Blends action and classic; testers said it felt smooth in PvE but needs tweaks for PvP.
- Group roles: The classic trinity returns—Tank, Healer and DPS—crucial in hard-mode dungeons with 4-player teams.
World and Progression
Aion 2’s world is 36 times larger than the original, featuring timed events, global quests and an auto-pathing system. Flight is enabled in all zones, though some testers reported confusion when using it to escape enemies.
Gear and Enhancement
- Gear drops: From dungeon bosses and open-world monsters.
- Trading: P2P and marketplace; items become untradable once equipped.
- Enhancements: Require many enhancement stones (frequent drops); sockets can be added and stats modified.
Technical Aspects and Other Info
- Performance: Tested on RTX 5070 PCs; optimized for RTX 2070, with brief frame drops during map transitions.
- Talent tree: Extensive, with points earned by completing content.
- RvR: Combines mechanics from Aion 1, TL and Blade & Soul; global bosses trigger faction-wide battles.
Testers Q&A
- Build tested: Three months old.
- Content tested: Leveling to 28 in 4 hours, 2–3 dungeons and RvR.
- 1v1/Arenas: 1v1 available; potential 4v4.
- Open-world duels: No; races on separate servers, encounters only in the Abyss and dungeons.
- Next tests: Adjustments in July; a new FGT likely in August or September.
- Final impression: Testers remain optimistic about Aion 2 after disappointments with other MMORPGs.
