AION 2 Won't Launch — Fix NCGUARD Error, Black Screen & Queue Issues

01. Before You Troubleshoot: It Might Be Maintenance

The launch maintenance window runs October 4, 10:00 PM PDT to October 5, 6:00 AM PDT (05:00–13:00 UTC). During this window every server is offline and the client will fail to connect — that is not a bug. Check the official AION 2 notice board or the Steam news hub before deep troubleshooting. On launch days NC also posts a live issue-tracking notice on Steam ('We will periodically update this notice as issues are discovered and resolved').

02. NCGUARD Error 0xE0000013 — Silent Crash at Splash

Symptom: launched from Steam, the game shows the splash screen for ~20–25 seconds and closes with no error dialog. Task Manager shows no running process. Community debugging points to NCGUARD (NC's anti-cheat) failing integrity checks. Work through these in order: (1) verify game files in Steam, (2) whitelist the game and NCGUARD folders in Windows Security and any third-party antivirus, (3) run Steam as Administrator, (4) perform a clean boot and try again, (5) as a last resort, reinstall into an installation path without special characters. Several Early Access players confirmed the clean-boot step resolved it (community-reported).

03. Black Screen, Infinite Loading & PURPLE Fatal Error

Black screen after the intro video usually means a driver or overlay conflict: update your GPU drivers, disable Discord/GeForce/Radeon overlays, and try running in windowed mode. For PURPLE launcher fatal errors, close PURPLE fully from the system tray, delete its cache folder and relaunch; reinstalling the launcher is the fallback. If you are stuck at infinite loading right after character select during launch hours, it is almost always server-side load — wait out the queue window instead of reinstalling.

04. Queue & Disconnect Reality on Launch Days

During Early Access opening, players reported queue positions between 1,500 and 3,500 — about 30–45 minutes of waiting — and NC added two additional servers within hours. Occasional disconnects and packet errors in the first hours are normal at this scale; the client's requeue system usually puts you close to your old position. Plan around the maintenance window and consider logging in before the peak (early morning in your region) if you want a smooth first session.

FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions

Why does AION 2 close silently after ~22 seconds on Steam?+

This is the NCGUARD anti-cheat exiting with code 0xE0000013, reported by Early Access players since October 1 (community-reported). The most reliable workarounds: run Steam as Administrator, whitelist the game folder and NCGUARD in your antivirus, verify game files, and perform a clean boot (disable non-Microsoft services) before launching. A clean boot fixed it for several players who reported the issue.

How do I fix the PURPLE launcher fatal error?+

Clear the PURPLE launcher cache: close PURPLE completely (check the system tray), delete its cache folder from the installation directory, and relaunch. If the error persists, reinstall the launcher and make sure your GPU drivers are up to date before trying again.

Does AION 2 support DLSS on RTX 50-series laptops?+

There is a widespread community-reported bug where DLSS is unavailable on some RTX 50-series laptop GPUs (NVIDIA GeForce forums). Desktop cards appear unaffected. Workarounds being discussed include forcing DLSS via NVIDIA App driver overrides. Check the official forums for a driver or patch fix.

How long are AION 2 launch queues?+

During the September 30 Early Access opening, queue positions of 1,500–3,500 translated to roughly 30–45 minutes of waiting, and NC added two extra servers to relieve pressure within hours. Expect similar or longer queues at the October 5 free-to-play opening at 13:00 UTC — the fastest way in is often a freshly opened server.