Jonathan Rogers, the game director for Path of Exile 2, has confirmed that the highly anticipated action RPG will not be exiting early access for a full launch in 2025 as previously hoped. This also indicates that the game`s transition to a free-to-play model will not occur anytime soon.
In a recent interview, Rogers clarified the development timeline ahead of the reveal of Path of Exile 2`s significant “The Third Edict” update. This update is set to introduce the game`s fourth campaign act, new temporary interlude acts, and its first seasonal league, among other features.
“I definitely don`t believe that`s possible anymore,” Rogers stated regarding the 2025 full release. “Things have taken a bit longer than we`d hoped.”
Factors Contributing to the Delay
Rogers elaborated on the reasons for the extended development. For Path of Exile 2 to officially leave early access, two crucial conditions must be satisfied:
- The game`s campaign must be fully completed.
- The game`s overall balance must reach a state where the majority of players are satisfied, signaling that the core gameplay is robust and finalized.
He emphasized that a full release cannot proceed until these fundamental aspects are thoroughly addressed.
While “The Third Edict” update will add Act IV to the campaign, developer Grinding Gear Games (GGG) still needs to release Acts V and VI. Rogers indicated that Act V is definitely planned for release during the early access phase, with the arrival of Act VI possibly coinciding with the game`s full launch.
Upcoming Content and Development Challenges
In addition to campaign acts, five new character classes—the Templar, Druid, Shadow, Marauder, and Duelist—are yet to be introduced into Path of Exile 2. Rogers revealed that one of these classes was nearly ready for inclusion in “The Third Edict” update but ultimately did not make the final cut.
Despite the setback, Rogers expressed strong confidence that a new class would be featured in the next major update. He acknowledged the unpredictable nature of class development, noting, “You can go into them thinking you know what they are and then by the time you`re actually done, you`ve refactored a bunch of things a bunch of times and it`s way harder than you expect.” He explained that for the current update, the team prioritized completing bosses and other core game elements over finalizing the new class.
GGG had previously estimated that Path of Exile 2 would be in early access for “at least” six months. Earlier this year, the studio made the decision to postpone a significant update for the original Path of Exile to focus resources on Path of Exile 2. Rogers previously stated that the studio was “still learning how to run two games simultaneously,” highlighting the complexities of managing concurrent projects.
Opportunity for Free Play
For players interested in experiencing Path of Exile 2 without purchasing early access, Grinding Gear Games will be hosting a free weekend from August 29 to September 1. This complimentary play period will align with the launch of “The Third Edict” update, offering an excellent chance to explore the game`s current state.