Aion isn't going anywhere. There are trolls on YT claiming to be "experts" spreading misinformation. A few of their points have some truth:
1. I create an account and a character, then jump into the game. I hit level 8-9 and venture into Haramel. Guess what happens?
<luna buff window> – I click and it prompts me "BUY LUNA IN AION SHOP" – at level 8, of all times – as a newbie!!!
2. Leveling is tedious: just grinding repetitive mob quests.
3. Another instance: FT – Why bother if I'm stuck doing lame mob quests? Maybe once for those shoes with a speed boost...
4. Alukina: Seriously, who's even bothering?
5. I hit Gelk and what's my reward? Strong level 75-77 mobs. Grinding is my only option to reach level 80. It’s at this point I can don the kerub gear to reduce my deaths.
So – where's the entry-level gear in Gelk for those 5 agonizing levels?
Old Aion had gear every 5 levels, which really helped, because the leveling was engaging. Hit level 30-ish and it was time for the abyss campaign. Now it’s just a mindless rush to Apsharanta, wiping out nearly all the game content.
6. I reach Apsharanta as a rookie, gearless. I try to hit base 11 or 12 for a gear quest: bannee. And what? The item is around 700k kinah, and I can’t complete the stupid quest, because I keep dying. So, on to another pointless quest. etc
ZERO SUPPORT FOR NEW PLAYERS.
GAMEFORGE'S SOLUTION: HEAD TO OUR AION SHOP.
It wasn't players who reduced Aion to this state, but GAMEFORGE. Mods or comas can argue and alter my post - but this rings true.
Other games have implemented systems to handle bots and scripters. Riot Games uses Vanguard in a 14-year-old game. But GAMEFORGE loves the cheating crowd because they pour money into the game, so why invest in a guard system for Aion EU? What a colossal waste 
Thus, only 10% of the game is left, while 90% is scrapped , and that 10% is filled with scammers, cheating every hour 
And I am *** crying a river. Yes, because I cherish this game 
. I adore it so profoundly.
And the amateurs turned my game back to the point where I can't do a thing without cash.
SO WHY IS AION STILL TOUTED AS "AION FREE TO PLAY"?
And you know precisely how to fix Aion. Revitalize Lakrum, Dumaha, Red Kata North. Unlock Red Kata South and introduce quests. Modify parts of those maps to a max level and include your adored SHARDS FOR CRAFTING DECENT GAMEPLAY ITEMS. BUT NO – IT'S TOO COSTLY, SO YOU COULDN'T CARE LESS. LET'S KEEP AION DULL WITH A DECLINING LEVEL EACH YEAR.
YOU DON'T EVEN WANT TO RELEASE OLD AION SKINS FOR PLAYERS TO ENJOY. YOU GENERATED A MAGICAL CRAFTING SYSTEM WITHOUT WORTHY GOODS. YOU NEVER UPDATE CHARACTER CREATION NOW. I DETEST YOUR *** COMPLETE APATHY. YOU HAVE EVEN CEASED FIXING BUGS IN THE GAME. AND I POSSESS 5350 DAYS OF GOLD PACK
ONLY TWO INITIATIVES YOU HAVE ATTEMPTED OVER THE YEARS:
- Open new servers like Miren and another. But you allowed them to wither, squandering your own capital on that Aion promo. I recall you even placed an AD campaign on social media. How can a company be so *** indifferent? If you cared, this promotion could’ve enticed former players back or drawn in new ones.
- The Eye of Tiamaranta – a player favorite.
But hey, things in Aion Riftshade look promising! As a tester, I’ve experienced their team’s dedication. They provide Aion 4.8 with much-needed improvements like a server-side anticheat and advanced rankings for PvP & PvE. It's hosted in Frankfurt for prime EU connectivity, so say goodbye to lag. And you bet, it's all geared towards balanced classes, no Pay to Win shenanigans, complete with quality features you can trust. The devs are proactive, constantly active on Discord. I can't wait for their official launch in Q1 2026. Aion Riftshade might just be the breath of fresh air we’ve been hoping for.
Thus, only 10% of the game is left, while 90% is scrapped 