In this week’s Gamemeca popularity rankings, Aion 2 has climbed three spots to reach 8th place, putting it within striking distance of the top 5. The key driver here is clearly a surge in PC bang usage, likely bolstered by the major update on July 1, featuring the new 'Power Star' class, alongside growth support initiatives tailored for both newcomers and returning players.

Starting July 1, Aion 2 ditched the seasonal model in favour of a more substantial 'Chapter' update system. This inaugural chapter doesn't just introduce the aforementioned 'Power Star'; it significantly expands the game's volume by increasing the level cap for characters and Stigma skills, adding new territories and storylines for both Elyos and Asmodian factions, and unveiling a new expedition dungeon, 'Corrupted Deva’s Castle'. Moreover, the developer is fleshing out horizontal content, including sailing for fishing and hunting, as well as housing where players can build homes on floating islands and interact with pets.

To ensure long-term sustainability, these updates are paired with quality-of-life improvements. Beyond direct growth support for new and returning players, the developer has removed restrictions on dungeon rewards and boss kill counts. Additionally, newcomers are now issued a 'Sprout Badge'. When veterans play dungeons with a 'Sprout' in their party, they receive a portion of 'Od Energy', a cheeky nudge to encourage cooperative play. The developer is also continuing its fight against the persistent plague of 'gold farming' operations.

However, it is a bit too early to break out the champagne. Despite the various mechanisms designed to attract and retain players, many still find it difficult to settle in, largely due to relentless PvP encounters. Furthermore, while the developer is tackling the 'gold farming' issue, the community is vocal about its dissatisfaction with class balance. Critics point out that the meta shifts erratically with every patch, causing frustrating disruptions to character builds. The developer will need to be more agile if they want to keep this momentum going.

Following its launch in March, Crimson Desert has moved past its initial struggles into a smooth cruise, but Pearl Abyss’s eldest child, Black Desert, has had a relatively quiet spell. While it managed to hold its ground in the early 30s during the first half of this year, it is rapidly losing steam as summer kicks off with competitors flooding the market with updates. In fact, Black Desert has slid from 30th to 38th place over four consecutive weeks since June.

The biggest culprit is a lack of significant, head-turning updates since the arrival of the new character 'Seraphim' last December. While one could argue the team was occupied with the launch and patching of Crimson Desert until April, Black Desert is now in desperate need of a refreshing 'one-shot' to quench its thirst. At the shareholders' meeting on the 7th, Pearl Abyss CEO Heo Jin-young described Black Desert as a "core asset that must be managed as a long-term IP." Whether the studio can deliver a summer update worthy of that title is the real question, and all eyes are on the upcoming Heidel Ball in July to see what is on the table.

In the upper echelons, Valorant has jumped three spots to 3rd, marking its return to the top 5 after three weeks. This success is attributed to the 2026 Season Act 4 update, headlined by the special 'Extraction' mode on June 24, combined with a PC bang event that lets players collect 'V-Fragments' to enter a draw for gaming gear. The timing was sharp, clearly aiming to capitalise on the end-of-semester season for university students, who make up a core portion of the player base.

In the mid-tier, Diablo 4 has vaulted 12 places to land at 19th. Fueled by its 14th season which began on July 1, it is now hot on the heels of Path of Exile 2. This season, Diablo 4 caught eyes with an Overwatch collaboration skin and a free trial event for the Spiritborn class. That said, sentiment regarding the season’s core change—the revamp of unique items—is far from glowing. Players are complaining that the increased randomness in item stats has made the farming loop feel unrewarding.