Global Launch of Aion 2: What Do the Streaming Metrics Say?

Kim Jun-su (HealT), Reporter | THISISGAME | 2026-10-12 16:50:10

Article link: https://www.thisisgame.com/articles/430870

Check out the global streaming metrics for this week's hottest titles! We analyzed the data in partnership with data analytics solution ContentFlux.

Today's spotlight is on Aion 2. Following its launch in Korea and Taiwan last year, the game is now challenging the global market via Steam. We examined the response it has been receiving in the streaming space.

Approximately 400K Concurrent Users on Launch Day, Securing a Top Spot on Steam Charts

Aion 2 is a free-to-play MMORPG developed and published by NCSOFT. As the sequel to the original Aion, it was first released in Korea and Taiwan in November of last year.

For the global market, an early access period began on September 30 for Founders Pack purchasers. The game then officially launched on October 5 on Steam and NCSOFT's proprietary platform Purple.

Set 200 years after the original, Aion 2 revisits the war between the Elyos and Asmodians. Players choose a faction and select from classes such as Guardian and Gladiator to begin their journey.

The world has expanded to approximately 36 times the size of the original, where players fly across an open world, explore freely, and engage in manual action-based combat. PvE raids for boss encounters and PvP events between players add further depth.

NCSOFT announced that the combined peak concurrent user count across Steam and Purple surpassed 400,000 shortly after the global launch. According to SteamDB, the Steam-only peak concurrent user count on launch day, October 5, was 397,905.

As of October 11, Steam's 24-hour peak concurrent user count stood at 392,300, maintaining steady momentum.

▶ Aion 2 Steam concurrent user trend. (Source: SteamDB)

YouTube and Twitch Both Rising; English-Speaking Dominance with Multinational Viewership

According to the ContentFlux Top 100 chart, which tracks global streaming metrics, Aion 2 showed an upward trend across major global streaming platforms.

In the first week data was collected, Week 5 of September (September 28–October 4), Aion 2 entered YouTube's weekly cumulative views chart at #77 with over 16.7 million cumulative views. On Twitch, it surged 82 places to #11 with over 1.1 million weekly cumulative concurrent viewers.

On domestic Korean platforms, it ranked #42 on Chzzk (peak concurrent viewers over 8,700), down 2 places from the previous week, while ranking #13 on SOOP (peak concurrent viewers over 9,200), up 2 places.

▶ Aion 2 rankings based on Week 5 September 2026 weekly cumulative views and cumulative peak concurrent viewers.

In the following Week 1 of October (October 5–11), YouTube rose 25 places to #52 with over 23.3 million cumulative views. Twitch also climbed 4 places to #7, recording over 1.9 million weekly cumulative concurrent viewers.

In contrast, Chzzk dropped 3 places to #45 (peak concurrent viewers over 8,800), while SOOP fell 2 places to #15 (peak concurrent viewers over 9,400).

▶ Aion 2 rankings based on Week 1 October 2026 weekly cumulative views and cumulative peak concurrent viewers.

Analyzing the global YouTube viewer distribution over the past 16 days (September 27–October 12, 2026), the United States (31.3%) held the highest share of peak YouTube viewers, followed by South Korea (21.7%), Brazil (9.7%), Spain (9.5%), Japan (7.1%), Germany (6.2%), Russia (4.0%), France (3.7%), and Canada (3.5%).

In terms of video creation volume, the United States (11.6%) also ranked first, followed by Brazil (10.4%), South Korea (9.9%), Japan (6.0%), Indonesia (5.1%), Russia (3.9%), France (3.5%), Germany (3.5%), and Thailand (3.3%).

Looking at daily view trends, the highest daily cumulative view count during the tracking period was recorded on September 30 at approximately 12 million or more. Although it declined somewhat afterward, views rebounded to around 10 million by October 7.

▶ Country-by-country distribution of Aion 2 content YouTube peak viewers.

▶ Country-by-country distribution of Aion 2 content YouTube video creation volume.

In Twitch's language-based data analysis, English-speaking audiences (48.9%) accounted for the highest share of peak concurrent viewers, followed by Japanese (10.1%), German (9.6%), Russian (8.6%), Spanish (7.1%), Portuguese (6.9%), French (5.1%), Polish (2.6%), and Italian (0.6%).

English (35.7%) also held the largest share of streaming broadcast volume, followed by Russian (15.7%), Portuguese (10.7%), German (8.7%), French (7.1%), Spanish (6.3%), Japanese (5.6%), Polish (2.6%), and Turkish (2.5%).

Based on daily viewer data, the highest daily peak concurrent viewer count was recorded on September 29 at 41,700, after which it maintained a range of 20,000–30,000.

▶ Language-based distribution of Aion 2 content Twitch peak concurrent viewers.

▶ Language-based distribution of Aion 2 content Twitch streaming broadcast volume.

Graphics and Customization Praised; Monetization Model Raises Concerns

Next, we examined player sentiment through gameplay videos and viewer feedback from global creators.

First, US-based gaming mega-channel 'Asmongold TV,' with 4.71 million subscribers, showcased Aion 2 sponsored content on October 7. The video covered the full early gameplay experience, from character customization through combat, quest progression, skill upgrades, item enhancement, open-world exploration, and the flight system.

Asmongold gave positive reviews of the game's outstanding graphics, open-world exploration, flight system, and endgame content, while noting the complex in-game interface and functional inconveniences as drawbacks.

Key Points Extensive time invested in initial setup and character customization Combat system and skill upgrade experience Item enhancement and gear management attempts Flight system and movement mechanics experience Positive evaluation of game graphics and open-world exploration

Low Points Difficulty using complex in-game interface and features Inconveniences during the character customization process Errors and instability encountered during the item enhancement system Uncomfortable elements in flight controls and movement Questions about enemy AI and combat balance

▶ Excerpts from Asmongold's Aion 2 video content as summarized by ContentFlux AI.

Sentiment analysis of YouTube comments on this video showed negative reactions at 39% as the highest share, followed by neutral at 34% and positive at 27%. Negative comments primarily expressed concerns about the monetization model structure and dissatisfaction with content time and frequency restrictions.

▶ YouTube comment sentiment distribution for Asmongold's Aion 2 video as analyzed by ContentFlux AI.

Positive Summary High praise for customization options, excellent graphical presentation, and the flight system Nostalgia for the original game and positive reception of casual, low-commitment gameplay

Neutral Summary Ongoing discussions comparing systems with other Korean MMORPGs and the monetization model Divided opinions on mobile-game-like play structure and graphics/UI style

Negative Summary Criticism of pay-to-progress elements and time-gated content restrictions Disappointment when compared to the original Aion

▶ Excerpts from Asmongold's Aion 2 video comment sentiment as summarized by ContentFlux AI.

Next, Spain-based mega-channel 'Rubius Z,' with 14.9 million subscribers, also released Aion 2 gameplay content on October 7.

Rubius explored a wide range of features starting from detailed character customization of appearance, body proportions, and voice, through open-world exploration, dungeon entry and boss battles, and the in-game economy system.

He expressed particular satisfaction with the detailed customization, stunning graphics, physics engine effects, and boss battle strategies combining dodges and attacks. However, some pet and mount designs, challenging boss attack patterns, and high shop item prices were noted as drawbacks.

Key Points Detailed and extensive character customization options Positive evaluation of game graphics and physics engine effects Deep gameplay experience through dungeons and boss battles Open-world exploration and interaction with other players In-game economy and shop exploration

Low Points Excessive customization options and time consumption Disappointing designs for some mounts and pets Challenging boss attack patterns and risk of instant death Some shop item prices feel high Some UI elements feel complex

▶ Excerpts from Rubius's Aion 2 video content as summarized by ContentFlux AI.

Sentiment analysis of viewer comments on this video showed neutral reactions comprising the majority at 54%, followed by positive at 30% and negative at 16%.

▶ YouTube comment sentiment distribution for Rubius's Aion 2 video as analyzed by ContentFlux AI.

Positive Summary Praise for outstanding character and armor design with high physics engine quality Expectations rooted in nostalgia for the original Aion

Neutral Summary Discussions comparing other MMORPGs and game systems Exchanges about low-spec PC compatibility, optimization, server selection, and monetization methods

Negative Summary Criticism of pay-to-progress elements and repetitive play structure Concerns about suggestive character customization and armor designs

▶ Excerpts from Rubius's Aion 2 video comment sentiment as summarized by ContentFlux AI.

Having launched first in Korea and Taiwan, Aion 2 is now challenging the global market with gameplay conventions familiar to its existing player base. While the detailed character customization and stunning graphics have been well received by international players, concerns have emerged regarding the monetization model and certain systems.

Since the global launch, the concurrent user trends and streaming metrics demonstrate clear international interest. Whether the game can address the raised concerns and sustain global player engagement remains to be seen.

This article is provided through a content partnership with GC.