'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 to Path of Exile 1 fans for delaying the 3.26 update. Originally slated for late October, then mid-February, the update is now indefinitely postponed due to the demands of Path of Exile 2’s launch and subsequent issues.

Path of Exile 1’s last league, Settlers of Kalguur, launched in July 2024. The decision to shift the Path of Exile 1 team to support Path of Exile 2’s endgame development before its December launch, initially seemed manageable. However, unforeseen challenges with Path of Exile 2, including crashes and balance problems, necessitated the continued focus on the sequel.

In a video message, Game Director Jonathan Rogers acknowledged the studio’s miscalculation. He explained that the team underestimated the time required to address Path of Exile 2’s problems, stating they were “fooling ourselves” about the feasibility of simultaneously launching a major update for Path of Exile 1. The priority, he explained, was stabilizing Path of Exile 2, a decision he now regrets.

Rogers expressed remorse for the situation, admitting overconfidence in managing two games concurrently. While a concrete release date for Path of Exile 1’s 3.26 update remains unavailable, he assured fans that a plan is in place for its eventual release, following the stabilization of Path of Exile 2’s 0.2.0 version and a short post-launch period.

Path of Exile 2’s early access launch on December 6th, 2024, across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, was a resounding success, achieving remarkable popularity and becoming one of Steam’s top 15 most-played games ever. Guides for character classes, builds, Spirit acquisition, trading, and ascension are readily available to help players navigate the game.