As Path of Exile 2 player numbers surge, Grinding Gear Games promises it won’t forget about Path of Exile 1
Path of Exile 2’s surge in player numbers has prompted questions about the future of the original Path of Exile 1. However, Grinding Gear Games has moved to reassure fans that the older action RPG will continue to receive support indefinitely.
In comments to eurogamer, co-founder Jonathan Rogers stated the studio has “no motivation to stop supporting POE 1,” emphasizing that they intend to maintain the game “as long as there are players” engaging with it. The studio is confident in its ability to run both titles simultaneously without performance issues.
Path of Exile 2 is approaching its full 1.0 release later in 2026, having recently received what the studio describes as its final early access update. The sequel has attracted significant concurrent player counts during early access. Meanwhile, the original Path of Exile continues to draw substantial numbers, with Rogers noting that the game’s launch events attract “hundreds of thousands of concurrent users.”
Rogers’ commitment to maintaining both games reflects a broader approach by independent developer Grinding Gear Games, which has long supported Path of Exile 1 as a live-service title. The studio’s willingness to juggle development and support for two separate entries in the franchise suggests confidence in their technical infrastructure and player base size, rather than viewing PoE 2 as a replacement that will cannibalize its predecessor.
The announcement will likely provide reassurance to dedicated Path of Exile 1 players who feared being abandoned as focus shifted to the new sequel.