Grinding Gear Games has delayed the 1.0 release of Path of Exile 2 beyond the previously targeted March 2026 window, with game director Jonathan Rogers estimating a late 2026 launch. Rogers expressed confidence in staying within 2026 but hopes to avoid slipping into 2027. The announcement comes alongside details for the upcoming Last of the Druids update arriving December 12.
Delay Announcement
Path of Exile 2, currently in early access since December 2024, will not reach its full 1.0 launch in March 2026 as initially planned. In interviews with Eurogamer and reported by GameSpot, game director Jonathan Rogers stated, "I'm fairly confident that we won't be out of 2026," while adding, "I don't think it'll end up being March; we'll have to see." He emphasized the lack of a specific timeline but noted the studio's efforts to accelerate development, saying, "Obviously we're trying to get there as fast as we can, but I certainly wouldn't want to slip into 2027."
The delay stems from ongoing work on the campaign, which currently features four of six acts, balance changes, and endgame content. Rogers highlighted the need to ensure these elements are polished before launch, referencing past adjustments like those to the hunter class introduced in April 2025.
Last of the Druids Update
Set for December 12, 2025, the Last of the Druids update (version 0.5.0) introduces the Druid class, allowing players to transform into a wolf for pack summons and claw attacks, a bear for enhanced strength via roars, or a wyvern for flight and elemental assaults like lightning and fire. Druids can also wield earth and storm magic in human form, with ascendancy paths as Shaman for amplified spells or Oracle for predictive foresight in combat.
Additional features include a new league mechanic involving dragon-crafting, also referred to as The Fate of the Vaal with a time-altering temple puzzle inspired by Loop Hero; 30 new support gems; an expanded passive tree with over 250 skills; a new Pinnacle Boss, Atziri; balance overhauls; and performance optimizations, especially for consoles. A free weekend preview runs December 12-15 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
At 1.0, the game will transition to free-to-play, currently available for $30 in early access.
