As of October 27, 2026 (UTC), three big free-to-play games have arrived on Steam in 2026 and one has not. Zenless Zone Zero launched on Steam on June 17, 2026, with version 3.0. NTE launched on Steam on July 8, 2026, with version 1.2. AION 2 launched on October 5, 2026, the date its Steam listing now shows. Foundation: Galactic Frontier still shows "Coming soon" on its Steam page. That is the confirmed part. Every entry below names its source and its date.
The 2026 timeline
This table lists the PC-relevant moves we can source, in date order. "Source" is where the fact comes from. Steam store dates are shown separately because they can differ by a day.
| Date | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 21, 2025 | Foundation: Galactic Frontier launches on iOS, Android and PC through its official website | FunPlus |
| Apr 29, 2026 | NTE launches across regions on PC (standalone client), Apple platforms, Android and PS5 | RPGSite, May 23, 2026 |
| Jun 16, 2026 | Steam preload opens for Zenless Zone Zero ahead of its Steam launch | RPGSite, June 16, 2026 |
| Jun 17, 2026 | Zenless Zone Zero launches on Steam with version 3.0, "A Sleepwalker's Confession" | RPGSite, KeenGamer |
| Jul 8, 2026 | NTE launches on Steam with version 1.2 | Steam news post, Game8 |
| Aug 19, 2026 | NTE adds Steam account login, announced in a Steam login FAQ | NTE Steam login FAQ, Steam news, Aug 19, 2026 |
| Aug 26, 2026 | Screen Rant reports no Steam date announced for Foundation: Galactic Frontier | Screen Rant |
| Sep 24, 2026 | Kuro Games opens a limited PC test of UHD, HD and SD client packages for Wuthering Waves, through its Official Launcher only | Kuro Games notice, September 24, 2026 |
| Sep 29, 2026 | Kuro Games says the Official Launcher will replace the current Steam delivery method for Wuthering Waves in version 3.8, with no date | Kuro Games Steam post, Sep 29, 2026 |
| Sep 30, 2026 | Wuthering Waves version 3.7 goes live (an update, not an arrival) | The Outer Haven |
| 2026-10-04 | Foundation: Galactic Frontier still shows "Coming soon" on Steam | Steam page, checked by GamiPrime |
| Oct 5, 2026 | AION 2 launches on Steam and NC's PURPLE launcher, free to play; no launch hour published | AION 2 on Steam, NC producer's letter, Oct 9, 2026 |
| Oct 21, 2026 | Once Human's Isles of Abyss ocean expansion update, scheduled for 4:00 PM PT (an update, not an arrival) | Publisher Steam post, Oct 21, 2026 |
| 2026-10-27 | Foundation: Galactic Frontier still marked "Coming soon" in Steam's store data; AION 2 listed as released Oct 5, 2026 | Steam, re-checked by GamiPrime |
Steam store dates versus announced dates
Steam's own listing dates are one day earlier than the announced launch dates for the two games that launched. Steam shows Zenless Zone Zero as Jun 16, 2026 and NTE as Jul 7, 2026, while the announcements and press coverage give June 17 and July 8. The sources do not explain the difference. We use the announced dates in the timeline and note the Steam listing date where it matters.
The two Steam launches side by side
Both launches were platform expansions of games that already existed elsewhere, and both kept a publisher account in the loop.
| Zenless Zone Zero | NTE | |
|---|---|---|
| Steam launch (announced) | June 17, 2026 | July 8, 2026 |
| Steam store listing date | Jun 16, 2026 | Jul 7, 2026 |
| Version at launch | 3.0, "A Sleepwalker's Confession" | 1.2 |
| Available before Steam | Windows (standalone), iOS, Android, PS5, Xbox | PC standalone client, Apple platforms, Android, PS5 |
| Account | HoYoverse ID, link or create | Game account; Steam login added Aug 19, 2026, and it creates a new User ID (NTE Steam login FAQ) |
| Listed storage | 75 GB | 110 GB |
| Steam rating (October 4, 2026) | 87.8% (Very Positive) | 82.9% (Very Positive) |
Zenless Zone Zero's earlier platforms are from Wikipedia and RPGSite's reports (Wikipedia); NTE's are from RPGSite's May 23, 2026 report.
What is confirmed
- Zenless Zone Zero is on Steam. It launched June 17, 2026, with cross-save through a HoYoverse account and cross-play across PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, iOS and Android, as reported by RPGSite.
- NTE is on Steam. It launched July 8, 2026, with version 1.2, after launching on other platforms on April 29, 2026, as reported by RPGSite and Game8.
- AION 2 is on Steam. Its Steam listing shows a release date of October 5, 2026, free to play, Windows only (Steam store data, read October 27, 2026). NC's October 9 producer's letter says the world opened "a few days ago". What its Membership changes is covered in GamiPrime's AION 2 report.
- Foundation: Galactic Frontier exists on PC today, but not on Steam. FunPlus's own launch post names iOS, Android and PC through its website.
What is not confirmed
- A Steam release date for Foundation: Galactic Frontier. Screen Rant reported on August 26, 2026 that no date had been announced. As of October 27, 2026 (UTC) the Steam store data still says "Coming soon".
- A date for Wuthering Waves 3.8 and its Steam launcher switch. Kuro Games gives none; no Wuthering Waves announcement on Steam is newer than September 29, 2026 (checked October 27).
- AION 2's launch hour. No NC or Steam page we read gives one.
- How progression moves for every account type on every region. Both the ZZZ and NTE reports describe account linking, and none of the sources we read lists every case.
- Anything beyond the sources above. We do not carry rumors or unsourced leaks on this page.
What it means for PC players
Steam is now an option for two games that were already live elsewhere, and AION 2 launched on Steam from day one. Both Steam versions tie progress to a game account, not to Steam alone. For NTE, the publisher says that logging in with Steam creates a new User ID, so progress on an existing account has to be linked first. Check the game's account-link screen before you play on a new platform.
Storage and hardware needs are large for both: Zenless Zone Zero lists 75 GB and NTE lists 110 GB. See the requirements comparison for how they compare with other free games. To judge how players rate them, see the Steam review ranking, and for what to play next, our map of the best free-to-play PC games.
Worth watching
- A Steam date for Foundation: Galactic Frontier, and what its Steam build adds. Screen Rant described it as a port of the mobile game.
- The next version drops for Zenless Zone Zero and NTE, which can change file sizes.
- The Wuthering Waves 3.8 update, when Kuro says Steam players move to its Official Launcher and gain package tiers.
How this page is maintained
We re-check every row against its source each month and change the "Last verified" date. A claim without a named, dated source is removed. If a source corrects itself, we correct this page and say so here. Last verified: 2026-10-27 for the Foundation, AION 2, Wuthering Waves and Once Human rows (Steam store data and Steam announcements); the other rows and the ratings table were last verified on 2026-10-04.
Frequently asked questions
Is Zenless Zone Zero on Steam?
Yes. It launched on Steam on June 17, 2026, with version 3.0, according to RPGSite and KeenGamer. Steam's own listing shows Jun 16, 2026.
Is NTE on Steam?
Yes. It launched on Steam on July 8, 2026, with version 1.2, according to the Steam news post and Game8.
Is Foundation: Galactic Frontier on Steam?
Not yet. As of October 27, 2026 (UTC) its Steam store data still shows "Coming soon", and no release date had been reported by Screen Rant as of August 26, 2026.
Is AION 2 on Steam?
Yes. Its Steam listing shows it released on October 5, 2026, free to play, for Windows (read October 27, 2026). NC has not published a launch hour.
Where do these dates come from?
Each row of the timeline names its source. We prefer official posts and reports that state a date, and we say when a source gives only part of the story.
Sources
- FunPlus, Foundation: Galactic Frontier global launch
- RPGSite, NTE Steam release date, May 23, 2026
- RPGSite, Zenless Zone Zero Steam preload and account link FAQ, June 16, 2026
- KeenGamer, Zenless Zone Zero Steam guide, June 17, 2026
- Steam news, NTE is coming to Steam on July 8
- NTE Steam login FAQ, Steam news, August 19, 2026, read October 9, 2026
- Game8, NTE Steam release, July 10, 2026
- Screen Rant, Foundation Steam release plans, August 26, 2026
- The Outer Haven, Wuthering Waves version 3.7, September 29, 2026
- Foundation: Galactic Frontier on Steam, checked October 4 and October 27, 2026 (UTC)
- AION 2 on Steam, Steam store data read October 27, 2026 (UTC)
- NC, AION 2 Producer's Letter: Welcome to Atreia!, October 9, 2026
- Kuro Games, "About Tiered Client Resource Downloads", September 24, 2026
- Kuro Games, Upcoming Client Update and Launcher Replacement on Steam, September 29, 2026; Steam announcements list re-checked October 27, 2026
- Once Human publisher post "Ocean Expansion: Isles of Abyss Is Now Live," Steam community announcements, October 21, 2026 (gid 1847286114028127), read October 27, 2026
