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Launch Scale Test - Version 7 vs Version 8
Oct 2, 2026, 04:10 AM
Removed duplicate in-body wikilinks
Oct 6, 2026, 11:55 PM
Added a comparison of the test build with the live global service
11The Launch Scale Test, abbreviated LST in NCsoft's own notices, was a free stress test of the global AION 2 build held on September 17 and 18, 2026. It was the last public test before advance access opened on September 30, and the first time the global client was open to players who had not bought anything.22Its purpose was server scale rather than content preview. NCsoft describes it as preparing the service for launch, and the restrictions below follow from that: the economy, the shop and the cosmetic systems were all switched off so the test measured load rather than commerce.44Schedule66Times below are the ones NCsoft published for the two regional clocks it used in the announcement.88PhaseDateWindowPre-downloadSeptember 166:00 AM September 16 to 6:00 AM September 17 PDT, or 15:00 September 16 to 15:00 September 17 CESTDay 1September 176:00 AM to 12:00 PM PDT, or 15:00 to 21:00 CESTDay 2September 1812:00 PM to 6:00 PM PDT, or 21:00 September 18 to 03:00 September 19 CEST1010Each day ran six hours, for twelve hours of play in total. The same two days were also published against Japanese time: pre-download from 22:00 on September 16, Day 1 from 22:00 on September 17 to 04:00 on September 18, and Day 2 from 04:00 to 10:00 on September 19 local time.1111How to Take Part1313ItemDetailPlatformsSteam and PURPLEAccessOpen to everyone. No keys, no invites and no registration list.CostFreeClientA separate playtest application on Steam, distinct from the main game listing1515Restrictions1616The test build was deliberately cut down. The restrictions NCsoft listed were:1818No purchases of any kind. The shop, Quna, passes, memberships and every payment route were turned off.The Market, the Quna exchange and player-to-player trading were disabled.Founder's Pack items were not available during the test.The Closet was disabled, so every character wore default outfits.Maximum character level was capped at 37, which also gated any content that requires a higher level.2020That level cap was specific to this test and is well below the live cap. See Gear and Progression for the real progression ceiling.2222Progression and the Wipe2424Progress carried from Day 1 to Day 2, so a character built on the first day was still there on the second. Everything was wiped at the end of Day 2. Nothing transfers to advance access and nothing transfers to launch, including levels, gear, currency and characters.2626How the Test Ran2828Both days went ahead on the announced dates. On Day 1 NCsoft added more European capacity within the first ninety minutes, opening each new server as an Elyos and Asmodian pair: Vaizel and Triniel at 6:48 AM PDT, then Kaisinel and Lumiel at 7:28 AM PDT. Those were test servers, but both pairs returned by name in the European Advance Access lineup published on September 28, 2026, Pacific time.3030A hotfix was released before Day 2. It slightly widened the interaction radius of quest objects, stopped characters below level 10 from using appearance change tickets, fixed a chat and macro reporting error that claimed the other player could not be verified, and addressed client crashes. Players had to download it before Day 2 began.3232After the Test3434PlatformWhat You Have to DoSteamUninstall the playtest application and download AION 2 separately for advance access on September 30.PURPLENothing. No further steps are needed.3636The notice that closed the test on September 18, 2026 also carried two changes for the live service rather than for the test. As an anti-bot measure, direct player-to-player trades are disabled, and the Market remains the central hub for trading between players. When a server is at capacity, Membership holders in good standing now join a priority queue instead of the general queue, with both queues moving as space opens; NCsoft said priority access can be revoked from accounts with disciplinary action against them or suspected of breaking the Terms of Service. See Servers and Regions and The Market.3737From Test to Launch39+The live service opened twelve days later. Advance Access ran from September 30 to October 4, 2026 for Founder's Pack holders and the free-to-play launch followed on October 5. Several test restrictions were lifted for the live build: the shop, Quna, Daeva Passes, the Special Quai Membership and the Market all went live with Advance Access, and the Closet opened, with NCsoft sending every player a Customization Voucher on launch day. Direct player-to-player trading was switched off after the test as an anti-bot measure, and no global notice had announced it being switched back on as of October 7, 2026, although the membership notice still lists five personal trades a day among its benefits.41+ItemLaunch Scale TestLive global serviceAccessFree and open to everyoneAdvance Access with a Founder's Pack from September 30; free to play from October 5Level cap37Not stated by NCsoft; launch notices refer to Duty content unlocking at level 45Shop and paymentsOffOnMarket and Quna exchangeOffOn, gated by membershipDirect tradingOffOff, as an anti-bot measureClosetOffOnProgressWiped after Day 2Permanent43+Two European test pairs, Vaizel with Triniel and Kaisinel with Lumiel, came back by name as Advance Access servers. See Advance Access and Servers and Regions.44+Earlier Tests3946The global build's public testing history is short. Before the Launch Scale Test, the closest thing to hands-on access for players outside Korea and Taiwan was a closed-door press and creator demo run alongside Summer Game Fest in June 2026, which was not open to the public. The Korean and Taiwanese service has been live since November 19, 2025, so that build has no test phase left to run; it is the shipped game. Treat anything observed in a test build, including this one, as a snapshot rather than as the launch build.4148Related Pages4350Global Launch and Platforms covers the launch calendar and server structure. System Requirements covers the hardware you need to install it. Servers and Regions explains how the two server waves work.