Path of Exile 2's Big Bet: Chasing 1.0 This Year, But Not All Heroes Are Making the Starting Lineup
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Grinding Gear Games is pushing for a full 1.0 release of Path of Exile 2 this year, aiming for launch after ExileCon in November, as revealed by game director Jonathan Rogers to Eurogamer's Robert Purchese. While new campaign Acts are on track, some promised character classes will be held back to meet the deadline, with player feedback on the critical endgame update being the ultimate determinant for the 2026 launch.
Alright, mate, gather 'round the digital campfire, because some rather intriguing news has just popped out of the ether regarding *Path of Exile 2*. Our good pal Robert Purchese from Eurogamer (cheers, Rob, always digging up the good stuff!) recently cornered Grinding Gear Games' co-founder and game director, Jonathan Rogers, and what he found out is a bit of a classic GGG move: aiming for a full 1.0 release this year, but with a few... *adjustments* to the initial plan.
So, the big reveal dropped during a press briefing for the game's final early access patch, 0.5.0, affectionately dubbed 'Return of the Ancients' (due end of May). Rogers, those mad lads from New Zealand, are dead set on getting PoE2 out of Early Access and into full 1.0 glory sometime after ExileCon, which is happening in early November. Now, if you've been following the saga, you'll know PoE2 first materialised in Early Access back in December 2024. Feels like a lifetime ago, doesn't it? My crystal ball was starting to get a bit cloudy on that full release date, so it's good to get a firm-ish timeline.
Rogers reckons this upcoming patch, 0.5.0, is the last big hurrah before 1.0. Why? Because it's all about the endgame, apparently. "The endgame is the last major thing we feel is really important to get right before we're able to ship," he told the press. And fair dinkum, a good endgame is crucial for an ARPG. Nobody wants to finish the main story only to find themselves wandering around like a lost adventurer in an empty dimension. The plan is to launch into 1.0 *assuming* players are chuffed with the new endgame stuff.
Now, here's where my wizardly senses start tingling with a bit of healthy skepticism – and where Robert Purchese, bless his intrepid soul, truly earned his XP. He pushed Rogers on the ambitious 1.0 target, especially considering there are still two entire campaign Acts (5 and 6) and a few character classes missing. My thoughts exactly! Are they trying to pull a rabbit out of a hat, or have they just been quietly brewing something epic behind the scenes?
Turns out, a bit of both. Rogers sounds confident about Acts 5 and 6, assuring us they're well underway. "Most of the environment work for Act 5 is done. There's a little bit left for Act 6. We're a long way along the road of having that stuff done." So, it's not like they're just starting. More like they're assembling the final pieces of a particularly intricate magical contraption.
But here's the kicker, the bit where the broomstick hits the reality wall: to make that 1.0 date achievable this year, some of the promised character classes won't be joining the launch party. Rogers confessed, "Originally we were going to do 12 character classes but I actually don't believe any more that it's crucial that all of them are necessarily in 1.0." At present, there are eight: Warrior, Ranger, Huntress, Sorceress, Mercenary, Monk, Druid, and Witch. The missing four are believed to be the classic Marauder, Duelist, Shadow, and Templar from *Path of Exile 1* – probably stuck in a portal somewhere, or perhaps just having a well-deserved digital tea break.
Rogers' take is that as long as the game *feels* complete, with enough classes and a chock-full endgame, it's not the end of the world. "No one can accuse us of having a shortage of content," he quipped. And he's probably right; GGG usually delivers on the content front. It's about that 'gut feeling' of completeness, isn't it? A game can have all the features in the world, but if it doesn't *feel* right, then what's the point?
Ultimately, the true gatekeeper for that 1.0 launch this year is player feedback on the new endgame changes. While GGG can churn out Acts 5 and 6 in their sleep, the endgame is a different beast. "We may think we know that the endgame is going to be good, but we do have to actually test that before we can release it in 1.0," Rogers explained. So, if players don't fancy what's on offer, GGG is ready to go back to the drawing board, fair dinkum dedication if you ask me. This ensures that the game isn't just a shiny new toy, but a robust, engaging experience for the long haul.
Robert Purchese, who's been hands-on with PoE2 since its early access debut, was pretty smitten by it – a deeper, more challenging take on the ARPG genre. And it's only grown since then, so there's plenty to look forward to. 'Return of the Ancients', patch 0.5.0, will be out on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X on May 29th. And remember, while early access costs a few quid, the full launch will be free-to-play. So, if you're holding out for the complete package, this year could be your year, even if a few legendary heroes are fashionably late to the party. Here's hoping the endgame magic truly binds it all together!
Tags: Path of Exile 2, ARPG, Gaming News, Grinding Gear Games, PC Gaming
Original article: Eurogamer