Path of Exile 2 aims for a full 1.0 release this year, but not all of the promised character classes will make it

Path of Exile 2 is on track to leave early access and launch as a full 1.0 release sometime in late 2026. Game director Jonathan Rogers announced during a recent press briefing that the full release will arrive shortly after ExileCon, Grinding Gear Games’ annual convention taking place in New Zealand on November 7-8, 2026. This timing suggests a release window between November and December 2026.

The final major update before the 1.0 launch will be patch 0.5.0, titled “Return of the Ancients,” arriving at the end of May. This substantial update will overhaul the game’s entire post-campaign endgame experience, transforming the grind into a more guided journey featuring structured quests and boss encounters. Rogers emphasized that this endgame rework was necessary for the game to feel complete enough for a full release.

Rogers expressed his eagerness to finalize the game, stating “I want to get this game finished, I really, really do,” indicating his desire to end the early access period. However, he also clarified that not all originally promised character classes will necessarily be included in the 1.0 release, representing a shift in the studio’s priorities toward completing the core experience rather than delivering every planned feature.

Sources

• Path of Exile 2 aims for a full 1.0 release this year, but not all of the promised character classes will make it
• Path of Exile 2’s massive Return of the Ancients expansion will be its last major update before it leaves early access later this year: ‘I want to get this game finished, I really, really do’
• Path of Exile 2 release date coming soon as early access gets final patch