'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

The developers behind *Path of Exile* have issued a heartfelt apology to longtime fans of the original game following delays in its latest update, as attention has shifted toward resolving critical issues in *Path of Exile 2*. Grinding Gear Games (GGG), the studio behind the popular action RPG series, had previously committed to continuing support for *Path of Exile 1*—a game that has been actively updated for over a decade—even as development on its sequel ramped up.

Originally slated for release in late October 2024 and later pushed to mid-February 2025, the 3.26 update for *Path of Exile 1* has now been postponed indefinitely. The delay comes as GGG focuses all available resources on stabilizing *Path of Exile 2*, which launched into early access on December 6, 2024, but quickly faced performance crashes, balance concerns, and scalability challenges.

In a candid video message, Jonathan Rogers, co-founder of Grinding Gear Games and director of *Path of Exile 2*, admitted that shifting the *Path of Exile 1* development team to assist with the sequel was a miscalculation. Initially, the plan was to temporarily reallocate talent to help shape *Path of Exile 2’s* endgame content ahead of its launch, then return to finalize the 3.26 patch for the original title. However, the complexity of the problems plaguing *Path of Exile 2* made this transition impossible.

“We were fooling ourselves,” Rogers confessed. “How could I justify taking some of the most experienced developers we have off PoE2 when it’s on fire?” He further acknowledged that not only was *Path of Exile 2* delayed beyond its intended release window, but it also required urgent fixes post-launch to ensure a stable and enjoyable player experience.

What This Means for Path of Exile 1

As a result, the *Path of Exile 1* development team remains dedicated to *Path of Exile 2* until version 0.2.0 is released—and possibly a few weeks beyond that. As of now, *Path of Exile 2* is running at version 0.1.1, meaning there’s still significant work ahead before stability and feature parity are achieved. “Unfortunately, I just can’t promise a date right now,” Rogers stated plainly.

He continued by expressing regret for how events unfolded, admitting he should have anticipated the consequences of diverting the original team away from *Path of Exile 1*. “At every stage, I kept thinking, ‘we still have time.’ And then we didn’t.”

Despite the setbacks, GGG maintains that they have a clear roadmap for the 3.26 update and are working hard to restore trust with their loyal fanbase. “We still have a lot to learn about how to run two games simultaneously,” Rogers said. “We were overconfident. We still need to work out how to structure our studio to make this possible. But we do have a solid plan for what we want to do with 3.26.”

Path of Exile 2's Launch Success

Despite the rocky start, *Path of Exile 2* successfully launched into early access on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on December 6, 2024. The game was met with overwhelming enthusiasm from players, earning its place as the 15th most-played game on Steam ever. Its success highlights the immense popularity of the franchise, even amid growing pains during the transition to a dual-game development cycle.

Which Path of Exile 2 Class Are You Enjoying Most?

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If you're diving into *Path of Exile 2* early access, here's where to start: choosing the right class can make all the difference. Whether you're leaning toward raw power with the Warrior or Mercenary, magical dominance with the Sorceress or Witch, or precision-based gameplay with the Ranger, each class offers unique playstyles and progression paths. Early build guides for the Mercenary and Sorceress are already available to help you optimize your character from the start.

Additionally, if you’re looking to maximize your efficiency in *Path of Exile 2*, be sure to check out tips on how to earn more Spirit, master trading mechanics, and unlock advanced Ascendancy features. These insights will help both newcomers and returning players get the most out of the game while GGG continues to refine the experience.