AION 2 Trailer and Preload — Timeline to the October 5 Launch

The launch sequence is trailer, pre-register, preload, release — and only the middle of that chain is still missing. The date reveal happened at Gamescom, pre-registration rewards are claimable right now through the newsletter, and the release is fixed at October 5, 2026. The preload is the gap: NCSOFT has announced no date for it. This page is the timeline that holds those pieces in order; the download mechanics themselves live on the preload and download page, which this timeline points at rather than repeats.

What is the full trailer-to-launch timeline?

Four milestones are dated, one is open, one is a window. Read the table as the whole run-up in order — announcement, test, head start, opening — with the preload row showing exactly where the confirmed information ends.

The reveal row is worth a sentence: Gamescom Opening Night Live is where the October 5 date comes from, so trailers cut around that show are the ones that carry the real date. Any “trailer” that shows a different date, a countdown timer, or a platform NCSOFT has not named is a fan edit wearing official-looking clothes.

Where do trailers, registration, and the client each live?

Three different official surfaces, three different jobs. New players mix them up because all three involve clicking something on an official page — the table keeps them apart.

The practical setup is two clicks today: newsletter on the official site for the rewards, wishlist on Steam for the notification. Either one alone leaves something on the table — rewards without notification, or notification without rewards.

Steam or PURPLE: which client should you prepare?

Decide by whether you bought a Founder’s Pack, because that choice is already made for you. Advance Access is platform-locked: a pack bought on Steam plays through Steam, a pack bought through PURPLE plays through PURPLE, and no transfer has been announced. Free players face no such lock and pick on preference.

Two preparations apply regardless of client: clear more than 100 GB on an SSD (patch staging, shader caches, and logs all stack on top of the base install), and remove the old playtest app — Steam test AppID 4972320 — so it cannot be mistaken for the retail client. The full comparison, the cleanup steps, and the general download troubleshooting live on the preload and download page, and the official spec tables behind the 100 GB figure are on PC system requirements.

What is still unannounced?

The preload date, both unlock hours, and the world names. The table is short on purpose — these are the details other sites are most likely to invent, so each carries its checked status.

Sources and verification

• NCSOFT gamescom Opening Night Live announcement, August 25, 2026 (October 5 date reveal)
• Official global site, aion2.plaync.com (trailers, PURPLE launcher, newsletter rewards)
• Steam store page, AppID 3393110 (wishlist behaviour, 100 GB requirement, test AppID 4972320)
• NCSOFT press release, June 5, 2026 (PC-only platforms and service regions)

Evidence level: Official / Global. Every date in the timeline comes from NCSOFT or its storefronts. Items marked not announced were checked against those sources on September 27, 2026. No trailer date beyond the Gamescom reveal is stated, because cataloguing every cut is not needed to answer the search: where to watch, what is confirmed, and when the client arrives.