AION 2 errors: cannot connect to login server, black screen, best settings for FPS

First check whether it is an outage

Half of the errors at the AION 2 Global launch were server-side, not your computer. In the first days there were:

• a one-hour delay of the server opening and queues lasting hours;
• a ban on creating characters on full servers;
• early access not being detected and in-game purchases failing — fixed by a patch, the client updates on restart;
• problems linking a Steam account to PURPLE — NCSoft is investigating.

Before changing anything in your system, check the news: we publish maintenance and outage notices. If the servers are in maintenance, all you can do is wait — compensation usually arrives by in-game mail.

"Unable to connect to login server"

"Unable to connect to login server. The client will now close" means the client could not reach the login server. If the servers are up, the cause is almost always the network or Windows protection. Try the steps in order and launch the game after each one.

What to do

1. FirewallAllow the game and PURPLE through Windows Firewall.
2. AntivirusAdd the game folder to exclusions or disable the antivirus while you test.
3. NetworkRestart the router, switch from Wi-Fi to cable or the other way round.

1. Firewall and controlled folder access

1. Open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Manage ransomware protection → Allow an app through Controlled folder access.
2. Add the game executable from the …\Binaries\Win64\ folder of AION 2, and the PURPLE launcher if you play through it.
3. Go back to Windows Security → Firewall & network protection → Allow an app through firewall → Change settings → Allow another app.
4. Add the same files and tick both Private and Public.

If you use a third-party antivirus (Kaspersky, ESET, Avast and others), add the game folder to its exclusions too.

2. Network

• Restart the computer and the router.
• Switch from Wi-Fi to cable or the other way round. For a test you can use your phone's hotspot.
• Change DNS: Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center → your connection → Properties → Internet Protocol Version 4 → DNS 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4.
• Temporarily disable Internet Protocol Version 6 in the connection properties. If it does not help, enable it again.

3. Reset the network settings

Open Command Prompt as administrator and run the commands one by one:

• netsh winsock reset
• netsh int ip reset
• ipconfig /flushdns

Then restart the computer — it is required.

The game does not start or error 0x0000015

A stuck launcher process is the usual cause.

1. Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc).
2. End every PURPLE process (including the agent) and AION 2 if it hangs. Keep only the main PURPLE window.
3. If that does not help, clear the PURPLE cache in its settings and log in again.
4. Run PURPLE as administrator.

Verify the game files:

• PURPLE — select AION 2 → File scan and game settings → Start file scan.
• Steam — right-click the game → Properties → Installed Files → Verify integrity of game files.

Black screen on launch

• Update the graphics driver from the NVIDIA, AMD or Intel website
• Disable overlays: Steam, Discord, MSI Afterburner / RivaTuner, screen recorders
• Run the game as administrator
• Verify the game files (see above)
• Install the latest Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable and DirectX
• With two monitors, launch the game with only one connected

If the game starts but the screen is black only in fullscreen, switch to Borderless window: the game is more stable that way on most systems.

Best settings for lag, stutter and low FPS

AION 2 runs on Unreal Engine 5 and loads both the CPU and the GPU. Tune the graphics so that no component sits at 99% — you can see it on the Performance tab of Task Manager.

Outside the game:

• turn on Windows Game Mode;
• pick the High performance power plan;
• in Task Manager → Details set the game process priority to High;
• close the browser with a dozen tabs — it needs memory too.

Queue and "character creation restricted"

This is not an error. At launch popular servers are full: they get a queue and new characters are blocked. What you can do:

• pick a server that opened later — NCSoft adds new servers in every region;
• do not worry about splitting from friends: character transfers between servers of the same faction open on 14 October, and dungeons and other instances are shared by all servers anyway;
• log in outside peak hours — evenings in European time have the longest queues.

The server list by region is on the AION 2 servers page.

1. Reinstalling the game at the first error100 GB again takes long. Verify the files first: it takes minutes.
2. Fixing your PC during maintenanceCheck the news first: if the servers are down, you cannot fix anything.
3. Installing "boosters" and "optimizers" from adsThird-party programs that hook into the network or the game cause crashes themselves.
4. Disabling the antivirus for goodAdding the game to exclusions is enough.

If nothing helped

Contact NCSoft through the Support Center or describe the problem in the bug-reports channel of the official AION 2 Discord. Attach a screenshot of the error, your Windows version and graphics card model.