According to GameSpot, Path of Exile 2’s 1.0 release is being delayed. Game director Jonathan Rogers stated the Tencent-owned studio Grinding Gear Games will likely miss the previously hinted March 2026 launch window, though he is “fairly confident” it will still arrive within 2026. Rogers specifically said he “certainly wouldn’t want to slip into 2027.” The studio announced a new update, The Last of the Druids, coming December 12, which adds druid transformations and over 250 new skills. They also announced a free weekend for the early access version from December 12-15. The game is currently buy-to-play for $30 on PC, PS5, and Xbox but will transition to free-to-play upon its full 1.0 launch.
The context of this delay
Now, here’s the thing. This news isn’t exactly shocking, is it? Path of Exile 2 entered early access just last December. And in the world of live-service ARPGs, especially ones trying to follow up a titan like the original Path of Exile, getting it right is everything. Grinding Gear is basically saying, “We’re not ready, and we’d rather be late than bad.” That’s a defensible position, but it does create a weird limbo. You have a $30 early access game out there that people are playing and judging, while the promised, polished, free-to-play final product is still a year or more away. It’s a tricky marketing and community management dance.
The arpg battlefield just got quieter
So who wins from this? In the short term, probably Blizzard’s Diablo IV. With Path of Exile 2’s full launch now looking like a late 2026 event at best, Diablo IV has a much clearer runway for its own expansions and seasonal updates without direct, head-to-head competition from a fully-fledged free alternative. It also gives more breathing room to other contenders in the space, like Last Epoch, to solidify their communities. But the delay is a double-edged sword. It builds anticipation, sure, but it also raises expectations sky-high. If the 1.0 launch isn’t a knockout, the narrative will instantly be about how they took all this extra time and still didn’t get it right.
The early access paradox
Look, the current $30 early access model is fascinating. It acts as a paid beta, a revenue stream during development, and a hype generator all at once. But it also means the game’s reputation is being formed right now, based on an incomplete version. The December update with the druid is a smart move—it gives current players something meaty and new to chew on, which is crucial to maintain goodwill during a long wait. That free weekend is also a sharp tactic to pull more players into the ecosystem early. Basically, they’re trying to grow the community even before the official “launch.” It’s a long game strategy, pun absolutely intended. Whether it pays off depends entirely on what finally lands in 2026.
