Let’s Make Sense of Aion’s Many Versions and Servers

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Navigating your way through AION’s different versions and servers can be confusing. The game has a long history with different regional publishers, major game-changing updates, and some unofficial servers. Here’s a brief summary to help you out:

  • AION Retail/Live/Origin: The current version of the original 2009 game as it has progressed through many years of updates.
  • AION Classic: The official “old-school” version of the game. Released in 2021, this version was designed to feel like it did at launch, but over time has taken on its own unique features adding brand new never seen before content, different classes, instances, and new zones.
  • AION Ascend: This is essentially a new, fresh start Classic server with some unique features set to launch in North America on August 19, 2025. It will offer many quality-of-life changes like faster progression, easier gear upgrades, and a Kinah-based (in-game currency) economy. It is a way for players to play the Classic game without the heavy grind of the original.
  • AION NA/EU: The official servers for different geographic regions.
  • AION2: This is a separate, upcoming MMORPG that is a sequel to AION. It’s a completely new game set in the same universe.

Any other version of AION that you hear about is likely an unofficial private server. While some players view private servers as merely an alternative route to experience the games they enjoy, in reality, private servers undermine the games we love in a variety of ways. They create fragmentation within the gaming community, erode official revenue, and create security risks that would not otherwise exist.

If you are a new or returning player to AION in 2025, unless you already have an account waiting for you in the LIVE version with characters you are attached to, my recommendation is to check out the Classic version of AION. AION Classic offers a much friendlier environment for players to progress in and thrive. The upcoming addition of the new Ascend server makes it an even better choice. The LIVE version however, does offer some unique classes that AION Classic does not, so if any of those special classes pique your interest, it may be worthwhile to check it out. For a rundown of the classes available to play in each version, check out this Class Page from the AION official website.

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