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 the confidentiality agreement (NDA), impressions have begun to leak, and according to several testers, this test surpasses the CBT of Chrono Odyssey.
The information comes from trusted community sources, KakaoTalk groups, and videos from participants who shared their experiences. Although it stems from leaks, the data offers a detailed and subjective view of a game very close to its final version.
Monetization and P2W
- Shop: Cosmetics (outfits, wing skins, and mounts).
- Wings: Forged through grinding; minimal upgrades, and different types affect flight power.
- Instant revive: Available with diamonds (premium currency) in dungeons and the Abyss.
- Action points: Energy system for dungeon entries; extra points can be bought with diamonds for additional runs.
- Gacha: “Minimized as much as possible,” present but not creating major power gaps.
- Clarification: The widely cited “2 trillion won” figure refers to the entire Aion IP, not Aion 2.
Customization and Skins
The character creator received a 5/5 for its detail and options (over 200). However, the quality of the cosmetic outfits was considered inferior, an area NCSoft needs to improve before launch.
Gameplay, UI, and Combat
- UI: Very similar to Throne and Liberty, but still subject to change.
- Skill slots: 8 total (4 main, 4 “Stigma”), plus linked skills and dodge.
- Camera modes:
- Action mode: Over-the-shoulder view, ideal for PvE, less suitable for large-scale RvR.
- Classic mode: Target-locking and traditional clicking, better visibility for PvP and RvR.
- Group roles: The “holy trinity” (Tank, Healer, DPS) returns in hard-mode dungeons; max 4 players.
- Chrono Odyssey CBT comparison: Several testers state Aion 2’s combat feels more polished and balanced.
World and Progression
The world is 36 times larger than the original, featuring timed quests, global events, and auto-pathing. Flight is enabled in all zones, though it can sometimes cause confusion when escaping monsters.
Gear and Enhancement
- Gear drops: From dungeons and field monsters.
- Trading: Player-to-player and marketplace; items become untradable once equipped.
- Enhancement: Intensive use of enhancement stones with frequent drops; sockets can be added and stats changed.
Technical Aspects and Others
- Performance: FGT ran on PCs with RTX 5070; optimized for RTX 2070, with few frame drops when changing maps.
- Talents: Extensive talent tree with points earned through progression.
- RvR: Blends 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, 2–3 dungeons, and RvR; progressive boss system with rankings.
- Leveling: Easy; reached level 28 in 4 hours with simple quests and flight as a tutorial.
- 1v1 and arenas: 1v1 available; possible 4v4.
- Open-world duels: No; races on separate servers; encounters only in Abyss and dungeons.
- Crafting and P2W: Tradable materials raise classic P2W concerns.
- Next tests: Adjustments in July, with new tests likely in August or September.
- Final impression: Most testers remain hopeful about Aion 2 after losing faith in Chrono Odyssey.
