Aion 2 tops Steam's sales charts before launch, despite being free to play

With just three days to go before Aion 2 launches worldwide, the game can already boast something many paid releases never achieve: topping Steam's best-seller list. As reported by Vida Extra based on SteamDB data, the sequel to the long-running MMORPG has climbed to first place on Valve's store before its global servers even open, with launch set for October 5.

What stands out is that this is a free-to-play game. Nobody will need to pay to get in, and yet the community is buying its founder's packs in droves. The game has been available in Korea and Taiwan for almost a year, so the hype didn't come out of nowhere: there's an audience that has spent months watching Asia and now wants a front-row seat. For an industry that lives on attention, this signal deserves a careful read, both for what it says about the game and for what it says about us as players.

What you need to know

• Key date: Aion 2's global launch is scheduled for October 5.
• Number one on Steam: SteamDB lists it as the platform's top-selling game just days before release.
• Free to play: the game will be free-to-play; what's being sold are the founder's packs.
• Not a brand-new release: the game launched in Korea and Taiwan almost a year ago.
• Crowded calendar: it arrives after a September packed with releases and in an October that offers no breathing room either.

From Asia to the rest of the world: why the hype is so big

Aion 2 isn't a game that came out of nowhere. For almost a year, players outside Korea and Taiwan have been able to watch videos, streams and reviews of the Asian version. That has a double effect: on one hand, it removes some of the uncertainty that usually holds back pre-purchases; on the other, it fuels the eagerness of those who have long been waiting their turn. When the door finally opens, the natural reaction is to rush in.

Add to that the weight of the name. For years, Aion was a benchmark for the genre, known for its faction warfare and its focus on player-versus-player combat. A sequel with that legacy stirs nostalgia in veterans and curiosity in those who missed the original era. And in an MMORPG market where big releases are scarce, any serious contender draws all eyes.

The role of founder's packs

It's worth being clear about what's actually being measured. Since the base game will be free, its spot on Steam is being propped up by the founder's editions, and the store's best-seller lists tend to reflect revenue rather than number of copies. In other words, the data shows there are people willing to pay before playing, but it doesn't tell us how many players there will be on launch day. The source doesn't detail the full contents of each pack, so our advice is simple: check exactly what each edition includes before you hit the checkout.

Our take

At the Underworld Lordz newsroom, we're looking at this with a mix of excitement and skepticism. A free MMORPG leading sales is a clear sign of interest, and that's good news for a genre in need of fresh air. But being number one before launch says more about the business model than about the quality of the game. Real success will be measured in a few weeks, with full servers, reasonable queues and a balance that doesn't punish those who choose not to spend.

For competitive players, the key question is whether the founder's packs offer only cosmetics and convenience items or something that translates into a real advantage. In a game with a tradition of faction combat, any progression shortcut shows up in PvP from day one. If that advantage exists, the launch will be a race of wallets, not skill, and we'll be the first to call it out. If it doesn't, congratulations: the competitive ecosystem will have a healthy foundation to grow on.

For content creators, the window is appealing but narrow. The Asian version's one-year head start means there are already guides and accumulated knowledge, so adding value will take more than repeating what others said months ago. And with such a packed October of releases, competing for the audience's attention will be as demanding as any faction siege.

What do you think?

Aion 2 has already won the hype battle; the battle for content and balance begins on October 5. Have you bought a founder's pack, or would you rather wait to see how the free game plays before spending a single euro or dollar? Let us know in the team chat or on our Discord.