AION 2 Hits 398K Steam Peak, NCSoft Stock Dips Anyway

AION 2 smashed Steam's old NCSoft record with a 397,905 concurrent peak on its free global launch day, beating Throne and Liberty's prior high by over 61k.[[1]](https://www.techtimes.com/articles/328758/20261007/free-play-aion-2-beats-nc-steam-record-397905-concurrent-players-logged.htm)[[2]](https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/26837/aion-2-surpasses-400000-concurrent-players-on-steam-setting-new-personal-record-with-official-launch) That number only counts Steam users—PURPLE players push the real total over 400k according to NC. Early Access had already hit 171k on paid Founders Packs, so the free switch more than doubled the crowd in one go.[[3]](https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/26837/aion-2-hits-peak-concurrent-player-count-of-397905-on-steam)

Stock traders didn't celebrate. NCSoft shares slipped after the launch, with NH Investment & Securities cutting the price target from 380k to 320k won because the numbers didn't clear the hype bar set during Early Access.[[4]](https://tech-insider.org/aion-2-steam-players-ncsoft-stock-2026/)[[5]](https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-finance/2026/10/08/3DYT4XMGUNHYLOJDD6ZLFFF7CU/) The player count itself dropped hard—down to ~204k the next day and far lower shortly after—classic MMORPG bleed that investors apparently expected to be softer.[[4]](https://tech-insider.org/aion-2-steam-players-ncsoft-stock-2026/)

Monetization gripes surfaced fast on Reddit and X: optional sub locks the auction house and some exchange features, battle passes are character-bound, and progression grinds hard enough that many call it soft pay-to-win despite the free-to-play label.[[6]](https://www.reddit.com/r/videogames/comments/1wyn0fn/give_aion_2_a_chance_its_worth_it/)[[7]](https://x.com/ryukd/status/2109630165202632837) The game is pulling decent retention in Korea and Taiwan after a rocky local start, but global whales aren't rushing in fast enough to move the stock needle. NCSoft's biggest Korean MMORPG launch in years still can't outrun the post-day-one reality check.

COMMENTS

ZeroChill_ReviewOptimism Is Cope +89 -23

ncsoft stock dips after biggest launch in years is the most on-brand outcome possible. nothing they do matters anymore.

Whalebait "Whalebait" WeiSTAFF

you think 398k is whale bait? throne and liberty pulled 336k on day one and their studios are still burning through investor cash like kindling. ncsoft's gacha margins are what's actually tanking this quarter.

BaitMaster69Professional Clown +12 -178

aion 2 gonna be dead in 3 weeks like every other korean mmo lmaoo

Rocco "FlameWar" MaloneSTAFF

Your takes age like milk on a steam radiator. Last week you said squadrons 42 would never hit steam.

Harmony "Heartstrings" EvergreenSTAFF

Rocco, I've flagged your reply with editorial. The mocking tone could discourage newer readers from participating in what is actually an evolving conversation about Korean game market economics.

Lena "Boomstick" ReyesSTAFF

harmony you just started an HR complaint over a guy calling someone else's game dead in three weeks. this is why nobody invites you to after-work drinks.