Aion 2 Will Have Subscriptions, Though, They're Apparently Not Required

Earlier this week, NCSoft Korea hosted an Aion 2 livestream, offering players more details on the upcoming MMORPG. The stream covered things like character creation, showed off Chanter gameplay, and provided details on PvP, crafting, and the like. During the stream, the devs also discussed the game’s monetization.

I admit to having seen this being discussed earlier in the week. However, there seemed to be some dispute about the accuracy of the information provided at the time, so I decided to wait a bit before posting – particularly since I don’t speak Korean and am relying on others for translations.

The original information discussed the game’s monetization, and it did sound worrisome. What I’m referencing today seems a little less apocalyptic than what I was seeing a couple of days ago. According to the translation posted on Reddit, Aion 2 will have subscriptions.

Yes, that is plural. There will be monthly subs, which some comments note are on a 28-day basis. The lower-tier sub is around $14, while the premium tier is approximately $20. The post does not say what players will get for their monthly-ish subs. What it does say, however, is that the sub isn’t required to play. I’m not positive if this means that there will be an ongoing trial situation similar to Final Fantasy XIV or if F2P players will find themselves needing to purchase useful items that paid players will simply have. According to the individual who shared the information on Reddit, the one thing it isn’t is a battle pass.

Whatever the case, we have a somewhat better idea of what the devs have in mind monetization-wise. That is, of course, if they don’t change their mind before launch.

On other notes, during the stream, the devs also discussed some of the game’s features, such as character creation, which players can apparently make premium currency off of if they share their character models online and other players download them. PvP and PvE features were also a topic. Specifically, gear for both playstyles was addressed. We now know that players can only buy PvP gear with Abyss Points and that the same gear is not needed for PvE. The devs also noted that dungeon loot can be traded within the group, but gear is bind on pickup.

As with the first Aion, crafting will be an important feature, and all crafted items can be traded. Crafting also provides the best-in-slot PvP items.

As noted, a full summary of the stream is available on Reddit, and some of the comments expand on things. Of course, we suggest hitting up that thread if you have any questions for the person doing the posting.