Path of Exile 2 is preparing to leave early access on December 11, 2026, almost two years after its initial early access release. Version 1.0 will launch simultaneously on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, while the game will also switch to a free to play model on the same day.
The full release will introduce the Duelist class, swords as a new weapon type and the final two acts of the campaign. It will also reset the main economy, meaning existing early access characters will be moved into a separate permanent league rather than transferring into the new Standard environment.
Path of Exile 2 Becomes Free to Play at Launch
Early access began on December 6, 2024 and required a $30 Supporter Pack. That requirement disappears with version 1.0.
From December 11, players will be able to access the complete campaign and endgame without an entry fee. Grinding Gear Games has also confirmed that compatible microtransactions remain shared across Path of Exile and Path of Exile 2, including cosmetics and other account purchases.
| Detail | Path of Exile 2 1.0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Release date | December 11, 2026 | |
| Platforms | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X | S |
| Price | Free to play | |
| New class | Duelist | |
| New weapon type | Swords | |
| Campaign | Six acts | |
| New campaign content | Acts 5 and 6 | |
| Launch classes confirmed | Nine | |
| Early access characters | Moved to separate Early Access league |
Players who already purchased stash tabs, cosmetics and other account bound items will keep them when the game reaches 1.0.
Grinding Gear Games is also offering a small registration incentive. Players who register before launch are expected to receive microtransaction codes by email after release.
Duelist Becomes the Ninth Confirmed Class
The biggest new class addition is the Duelist.
Grinding Gear describes the character as a fast and aggressive melee fighter with enough flexibility to adapt to different combat situations. The Duelist will also introduce swords, which have not previously been available as a weapon category in Path of Exile 2.
Its Ascendancy subclasses have not yet been announced.
The long term plan calls for 12 base classes with three Ascendancies each, creating 36 subclasses in total. With the Duelist joining the eight classes already available during early access, nine classes are confirmed for version 1.0.
Grinding Gear has not said whether any of the remaining three planned classes will also be ready for launch.
Acts 5 and 6 Will Complete the Campaign
Version 1.0 will also finish Path of Exile 2's main storyline.
Act 4 was introduced during early access with The Third Edict update, while Acts 5 and 6 are scheduled to arrive with the full launch.
Together, they will complete the planned six act campaign.
Path of Exile 2 remains an isometric action RPG built around loot, character builds and extensive customization.
Characters use a shared passive skill tree, with each class beginning from a different position. Active abilities come from skill gems, while support gems can significantly alter how those abilities function.
Combat is more deliberate than in the original Path of Exile. Bosses place greater emphasis on positioning and timing, while the game's systems encourage players to combine several skills rather than relying almost entirely on a single attack.
Early Access Characters Will Not Enter the New Economy
Existing characters will not be deleted when 1.0 launches.
Instead, every early access character will move into a permanent Early Access league where levels, gear and stash contents remain available.
The new Standard league will start with a completely fresh economy.
Characters, currency, equipment and maps from early access therefore cannot be transferred into the new 1.0 environment. Challenge rewards already earned will remain attached to player accounts.
That structure allows longtime players to preserve their characters while ensuring everyone begins the new economy on equal terms.
Atlas of Worlds Remains the Main Endgame
After completing the campaign, players move into the Atlas of Worlds.
The system revolves around running Waystones across an expanding map while investing points into the Atlas passive tree to influence rewards and progression.
Pinnacle bosses provide some of the toughest endgame encounters.
Seasonal leagues will continue to play a major role, with Standard, Hardcore and Solo Self Found variants available.
The current Forbidden Rites event league and Runes of Aldur league are both scheduled to end when version 1.0 launches.
PC Requirements Have Not Been Updated Yet
Grinding Gear Games has not published final PC requirements for version 1.0.
The existing early access requirements list an Intel Core i7 7700 or AMD Ryzen 5 2500X as the minimum processor, 8 GB of RAM and a GeForce GTX 960 3 GB, Intel Arc A380 or Radeon RX 470.
Recommended hardware includes an Intel Core i5 10500 or AMD Ryzen 5 3700X, 16 GB of RAM and an RTX 2060, Arc A770 or Radeon RX 5600 XT. Both configurations require 100 GB of storage.
The game currently supports NVIDIA DLSS using the CNN model, NVIDIA Image Scaling, AMD FSR 2 and Intel XeSS 1.3. No official frame generation technology is currently supported.
Path of Exile 2's December 11 launch will therefore represent more than the end of early access. It brings the free to play transition, a completed campaign, a fresh economy, another class and the beginning of the game's full live service phase after nearly two years of public development.
Discussion (0)
Be the first to comment.