NCsoft: Aion open beta hits 170,000 concurrent users

via Games Industry


NCsoft has revealed that the open beta test for its upcoming MMO, Aion: Tower of Eternity, has seen more than 170,000 concurrent users, making it the most popular beta in Korea ever.

Aion is scheduled to launch in Korea within the year and next year in China, North America, Europe and Japan. According to NCsoft, the number of players logged into the game grew from 11,000 people within two minutes to over 40,000 in under an hour - requiring 25 servers and still leaving many would be players in a queue.

"The response we're seeing in Korea is incredibly exciting," said David Reid, president of publishing for NCsoft West in Seattle.

"Our Aion community in North America and Europe is also rapidly growing. We've got aggressive plans for the western launch in 2009."

This news follows a poor financial result for the company which saw its net income tumble 50 per cent.