The wait for the Path of Exile full release date has felt like a lifetime. Honestly, if you’ve been following Grinding Gear Games (GGG) since the first announcement back at ExileCon 2019, you probably feel a bit gray around the temples.
We’re officially in 2026.
Early access has been live since December 6, 2024. People have been grinding, shapeshifting into wolves, and complaining about the "flask piano" being gone for over a year now. But the question remains: when does the "beta" tag actually drop?
The 2026 Timeline: When is the Path of Exile Full Release Date?
Let’s be real. GGG is notoriously bad at hitting their initial estimates. Remember when they said early access might only last six months?
That didn't happen.
The current roadmap, backed by recent interviews with Game Director Jonathan Rogers, points squarely at a Path of Exile full release date in late 2026. While the studio was "beyond shocked" that they didn't hit 1.0 in 2025, the reality of balancing twelve character classes and a six-act campaign slowed things down.
Currently, we are sitting on the 0.5.0 patch cycle. Here is how the rest of the year is shaping up:
- Mid-Late April 2026: The 0.5.0 update. This is the big one. It’s supposed to fix the endgame mapping system that everyone's been shouting about on Reddit. We might also see the Templar or the Duelist (and finally, swords!) during this window.
- August-September 2026: Patch 0.6.0. Expect the remaining classes like the Shadow or Marauder to sneak in here.
- November-December 2026: This is the "Gold" window. GGG loves a December launch.
If they can squeeze the final acts and the last few Ascendancies into the summer updates, a December 2026 full launch is the most logical bet.
Why the Delay Actually Matters
Most games launch and then they're just... done. PoE is different.
The transition from early access to the Path of Exile full release date isn't just a marketing gimmick. It’s the moment the game becomes 100% free-to-play. Right now, unless there's a "Free Weekend" happening, you still have to buy a Supporter Pack (usually around $30) to get in.
1.0 changes everything. It opens the floodgates.
There’s also the matter of the "missing" content. As of early 2026, we’re still playing with a truncated version of the game. The full release is promised to have:
- All 12 character classes (we’re still missing a few iconic ones).
- 36 Ascendancy classes (three for every base class).
- The complete six-act campaign.
- A fully "baked" Atlas of Worlds.
Is Path of Exile 1 Going Away?
Short answer: No.
Longer answer: GGG realized early on that PoE 1 and PoE 2 are fundamentally different beasts. PoE 1 is "zoom-zoom" madness—screen-clearing explosions and decade-deep complexity. PoE 2 is more deliberate. It’s "souls-lite" in its combat pacing.
They are running both games on an alternating schedule. Every two months, one of the games gets a new league. It’s a genius move for keeping the player base addicted, even if it means the developers never get to sleep.
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What You Should Do Right Now
Don't wait for the Path of Exile full release date if you actually want to play.
Seriously.
The game is already massive. Between the "Last of the Druids" update in late 2025 and the upcoming 0.5 overhaul, there is more content in this "beta" than in most AAA RPGs at launch.
If you're a new player, start with the Druid or the Sorceress. They feel the most "modern." If you're a veteran, stop comparing the endgame to 10 years of PoE 1 content; it’s a different game.
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Check the official forums for the next "Free Weekend" if you're strapped for cash, otherwise, grab a basic Supporter Pack. The points you get with it can be spent on stash tabs anyway, which you’ll definitely need once you start hoarding Uniques.
Keep an eye on the mid-April patch notes. That will be the definitive "vibe check" for whether GGG can actually hit that late 2026 1.0 milestone.