The global unlock is 13:00 UTC on October 5, 2026
That is the time Steam’s listing resolves to — 6:00 AM PDT / 9:00 AM EDT / 3:00 PM CEST / 10:00 PM JST. NC has not printed the hour in its own launch notice, so treat the store page as the final word and recheck it on the day.
Live Launch Countdown
Reading the launch timestamp…
AION 2 is live — first 30 minutes checklist
- Open Steam or PURPLE and let the launcher patch to the live build; the old Playtest App must be removed separately.
- Create your character while queues are shortest, then redeem the confirmed coupon TAKEFLIGHTAION2 on the codes page route.
- Check the rift timer and catch the first Spacetime Rift window that fits your session.
Unlock Time by Region
The table below converts the October 5 unlock moment into the regions most global players live in. The “your timezone” row is computed on your device, so it is the one to plan your session around.
| Region | Local unlock time |
|---|---|
| US West (PDT) | Oct 5, 6:00 AM |
| US East (EDT) | Oct 5, 9:00 AM |
| UTC baseline | Oct 5, 13:00 |
| Central Europe (CEST) | Oct 5, 15:00 |
| Japan (JST) | Oct 5, 22:00 |
| Australia East (AEST) | Oct 6, 00:00 |
| Your timezone | Needs JavaScript |
Source basis: Steam’s release timestamp for the global PC edition, cross-checked against community countdowns on October 5, 2026. NC’s own announcement has not printed an exact hour; if the store listing shifts, this page updates with it.
The Full Access Timeline
The launch caps a schedule NC has been running since mid-September. Pre-download for the Launch Scale Test client opened September 16, and the two-day open test ran September 17–18 with a level-37 cap and a full progression wipe. Founder’s Pack Advance Access then began September 30, giving pack owners five days of paid head start.
That progression matters for launch day: nothing from the scale test carried over, so every player — pack owner or not — starts fresh at the October 5 unlock. Advance Access characters were created on live servers, which is why Founder’s Pack players already appear in the world before the free-to-play unlock.
Launch-day maintenance is reported to run from 05:00 to 13:00 UTC, ending at the unlock. First-day queues and stabilization maintenance are normal for a launch of this scale; the download guide covers the client side, and the codes page tracks the coupons NC posts during launch week.
Countdown FAQ
What time does AION 2 unlock globally today?
13:00 UTC on October 5, 2026 — 6:00 AM PDT, 9:00 AM EDT, 3:00 PM CEST, 10:00 PM JST, and just past midnight October 6 in eastern Australia. The “your timezone” row in the table above shows it for your device.
Can I still get in before the free-to-play unlock?
Only through a Founder’s Pack, whose five-day Advance Access began September 30. After the unlock moment the base game is free to play, so buying a pack after launch no longer changes when you can play.
What happens when the countdown reaches zero?
Launch-day maintenance ends and the live build opens on Steam and PURPLE. The live checklist in the timer panel above covers the first thirty minutes: patch the client, redeem the launch coupon, and plan your first rift window.
Why does my local time differ from a friend’s?
One global moment converted into local clocks can fall on different calendar dates — the unlock is the evening of October 5 in Japan but midnight going into October 6 in eastern Australia. Both are the same server moment.
Is there a mobile countdown?
No. The global edition is PC-only at launch; Korean and Taiwanese mobile versions are regional services with no announced global release, so this page tracks the PC unlock only.
What Is Still TBD?
The unlock hour comes from Steam’s listing rather than an NC-printed schedule, and post-unlock specifics — queue behavior, staggered regional server openings, and first-week maintenance windows — only become confirmable as launch day plays out. Those fields stay here until an official notice or the live client resolves them.