Path of Exile 2 Set to Launch Beyond Early Access Soon

Path of Exile 2 is nearing its long-awaited 1.0 release. Recently, the developers at Grinding Gear Games hosted a livestream where they unveiled the latest patch (0.5, titled “Return of the Ancients”). Game director Jonathan Rogers announced that this will be the final major update before the game transitions from early access to its full version.

While the exact release date for Path of Exile 2 remains under wraps, it’s reasonable to speculate that 1.0 will launch sometime between November and December. The developers have indicated their goal to release the complete game in 2026, following ExileCon, which is set to take place in New Zealand on November 7-8. Given that the 1.0 update is expected to be as significant, if not more so, than “Return of the Ancients,” which is the largest update they’ve ever rolled out, a wait of six to seven months seems plausible.

More details about the full game are likely to emerge during ExileCon, but Rogers did provide some insights to help players manage their expectations for 1.0. When asked about the inclusion of all four missing base classes, he mentioned, “We won’t necessarily have all 12 of the base classes for 1.0. We should have most of them, but we will have to see how that goes.” However, he assured players that all ascendancies for the classes currently in the game will be available.

Additionally, Rogers confirmed that 1.0 will feature localization in more languages. Currently, the game supports 10 languages, and it’s encouraging to see the developers expanding options for players. Another exciting feature coming in 1.0 is the ability for players to switch seamlessly between keyboard and controller, which Rogers described as a “surprisingly brutal and large feature to do.”

The arrival of 1.0 is not just a thrill for seasoned players eager to experience the endgame with new classes; once the game exits early access, Path of Exile 2 will be entirely free to play.