First impressions of Aion 2 FGT in Pangyo

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.

https://youtu.be/y3OgYyj97uk