In a pre-release Q&A held in November 2024, Jonathan Rogers, the game director for Path of Exile 2, expressed that he aimed to keep the Early Access phase to under “a year.”While there has not been a concrete timeline for the full launch, this statement established a vague target for patch 1.0 by December 2025.
However, recent developments suggest that achieving this timeline may be increasingly unlikely. Although a 1.0 release next year is still plausible, Grinding Gear Games (GGG) appears less confident than they were at the outset. During a recent interview with Eurogamer, Jonathan quantified their optimism, claiming a 65% likelihood that the game would reach this milestone within the year. He noted:
“I think it is quite possible… but not, like, 90 percent. I’m thinking a 65 percent chance of getting it done this year. That’s my current feeling about it. I have a schedule that will get us there. It’s a question of can we actually meet that schedule, which will be challenging but not impossible.”
Balancing Development: A Dual Challenge for Path of Exile Teams
The development of Path of Exile 2 benefits from the foundation of its 0.1.0 patch, which serves as the day-one version for Early Access. Even at this initial stage, it could be seen as a complete product, despite potential challenges like a lengthy Endgame grind.
Nevertheless, GGG’s aspirations for a full launch are substantial, requiring the addition of five more character classes (excluding the Huntress) and an extensive variety of weapon types to fulfill the game’s vast potential. Furthermore, the latter half of the campaign stands as a placeholder for now, necessitating additional development.
The original goal of a possible 2025 release for patch 1.0 was bolstered not only by the developers’ expressed “65%”confidence but also by the factors influencing maintenance and updates for the original Path of Exile.
In light of the extensive duration of the Settlers of Kalguur League for the original game, GGG addressed the community by stating:
“Now we still have a lot to learn about how to run two games simultaneously. We were overconfident. We still need to work out how to structure our studio to make this possible.”
The focus is clearly on the new title, which has proven to be highly lucrative, marked by a million key sales during its Early Access phase. However, following the release of the upcoming patch 0.2.0 for Path of Exile 2, the team will need to revive the original game to prepare for its next League update.
In the same interview where Jonathan detailed the 65% confidence, he also mentioned alternate plans. If they miss the 2025 deadline for the 1.0 patch, the timeline would only extend by about three to four months, establishing a new de facto deadline of March 2026. He remarked:
“If it wasn’t December, it would be March kind of thing.”
While this timeline offers some clarity, it’s essential to note that no guarantees can be made. Although GGG currently possesses a functioning schedule, the path ahead for this emergent ARPG remains uncertain. With eight major updates still to roll out, the landscape could change significantly before the target date arrives.