NCSOFT's new massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) AION2 is proving its potential for long-term success in the PC café market. Even as it enters its second month after launch, its PC café usage indicators are rising, and it has surpassed rival titles MapleStory and LOST ARK to take the No. 1 spot in the RPG genre. Observers say it is extending its grip beyond mobile success to the PC platform.
According to PC café game statistics service Gametrics on the 8th, AION2 ranked No. 6 overall with a 4.17% share in the first week of Jan. 2026. That is up one notch from the previous week. In the RPG genre, it took the top spot ahead of Nexon's MapleStory (No. 7, 4.01%) and Smilegate's LOST ARK (No. 10, 2.22%).
What stands out is the trend in usage indicators. Typically, major new MMORPGs see PC café rankings and playtime drop quickly once the launch effect fades, but AION2 is showing the opposite. AION2's PC café playtime rose 5.11% from the previous week. In contrast, MapleStory fell 10.56% and LOST ARK fell 11.60%. Compared with NCSOFT's existing flagship Lineage series, which stayed at No. 16 with a 0.43% share, AION2 is being assessed as the fulcrum of a generational shift.
This upward trajectory in PC café metrics aligns with its recent revenue performance. After launching on Nov. 19 last year, AION2 surpassed cumulative revenue of 100 billion won on the 3rd, the 46th day. Paid membership account numbers exceeded 1 million, suggesting it has secured a stable demand base beyond an initial hit. Citing that more than 90% of payments come from the PC platform, industry watchers say actual user traffic is translating directly into rising PC café rankings.
User base expansion is cited as the reason AION2 outpaced rivals in the PC café market. Breaking from the traditional MMORPG model that pushed heavy spending, it adopted a membership-centered structure in the 40,000–50,000 won per month range, lowering the barrier to entry. As a result, not only the existing core users in their 40s and 50s but also users in their 20s and 30s and more women are joining, which is powering its defense of PC café share. On major streaming platforms such as Naver CHZZK and SOOP, AION2 continues to rank near the top in viewership, drawing the interest of younger audiences.
NCSOFT's changed operation strategy also helped sustain the rankings. It held eight live broadcasts in the month after launch to quickly reflect user feedback and recently revamped the pet system—previously separated by character—to be shared across the server. It also rolled out updates to ease growth pressure, such as doubling equipment enhancement efficiency from previous levels. Efforts to improve the play environment through large-scale actions against illegal programs and botting accounts are also getting positive reviews.
To maintain its momentum, NCSOFT has announced a Season 2 update for the 21st. It plans to add large-scale content such as a new expedition dungeon and server-versus-server battles, and open the mid-tier Abyss with item level restrictions to strengthen competitive elements. The industry views the Season 2 update as a potential inflection point for further gains in PC café share.
A NCSOFT official said, "AION2 is a cross-platform game, but most of the core content, such as raids and boss dungeons, is being played on PC," adding, "Mobile is often used for collecting login rewards or simple play, so given current usage patterns, the structure clearly favors PC users." The official added, "We surpassed cumulative revenue of 100 billion won a month and a half after launch, which is a very fast pace even compared with our past MMORPGs," and "We see it as meaningful that this was achieved with a structure centered on memberships, battle passes, and cosmetic items, without probability-based items."