'I'm Really Sorry for How This Went Down' — Work on Path of Exile 1 3.26 on Hold Until Path of Exile 2 0.2.0 Has Shipped, Dev Says

Grinding Gear Games has apologized for delaying the Path of Exile 1 (PoE1) 3.26 update, originally slated for late October 2024, then mid-February 2025. The delay is due to the studio prioritizing Path of Exile 2 (PoE2)'s launch and subsequent stability issues.

The PoE1 team was reassigned to assist with PoE2's endgame development before its December 2024 launch. While initially expecting a swift return to PoE1's 3.26 update, unforeseen challenges and issues with PoE2, including crashes and balance problems, necessitated their continued support. PoE1's last league, Settlers of Kalguur, launched in July 2024.

In a video message, Game Director Jonathan Rogers acknowledged the studio's miscalculation, admitting they were “fooling ourselves” about the timeline. He explained the decision to keep the experienced developers on PoE2, stating, “How could I justify taking some of the most experienced developers we have off PoE2 when it’s on fire?”

Rogers expressed sincere apologies for the delay and admitted to overconfidence in managing two games concurrently. He stated that the PoE1 team will remain focused on PoE2 until at least version 0.2.0, potentially longer, and that a release date for PoE1's 3.26 update is currently unavailable.

PoE2's early access launch on December 6th, 2024, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, was a significant success, becoming one of Steam's most-played games ever. Guides for character classes, builds (Mercenary and Sorceress), Spirit acquisition, trading, and ascension are available to help players get started.