AION 2 Heads to China: NCSoft Signs Publishing Deal with Shengqu Games

NCSoft and Shengqu Games signed the publishing agreement on August 1, 2026. Shengqu Games will handle mainland China operations including server infrastructure, localization, customer support, and monetization. NCSoft retains creative control and will provide ongoing game updates.

Shengqu Games is a subsidiary of Shanda Games (now Zhejiang Century Huatong), one of China's largest game publishers. The company previously operated the original AION in China from 2009 to 2020, giving it deep familiarity with the franchise and its community.

Shengqu Games set up an AION 2 booth at ChinaJoy 2026 (July 26-29, Shanghai), featuring playable demos of the Korea service version and promotional materials branded as 永恒之塔2. The booth attracted significant attention from Chinese MMORPG fans eager for a localized version.

The ChinaJoy presence confirms that marketing and community building for the Chinese launch has already begun, even though a release date has not been announced.

For Chinese players, this means AION 2 will receive a dedicated local server with Chinese language support, localized events, and compliance with Chinese gaming regulations including playtime restrictions and real-name verification.

For global players, the China deal has minimal direct impact — Chinese servers will be separate from global servers, and cross-region play has not been announced. However, the additional revenue from the Chinese market could accelerate content development for all regions.

No official release date has been announced for the China launch. Based on typical Chinese game approval timelines (including ISBN application through the National Press and Publication Administration), the China launch could be 6-12 months after the global launch, potentially placing it in Q2-Q3 2027.

The Korea service is already live, the global launch is September 2026, and the China launch will follow after regulatory approval is obtained.