Path of Exile 2: Will It Leave Early Access in 2025?

Grinding Gear Games (GGG) set out to do an extremely difficult task. They wanted to make a sequel to the critically acclaimed Path of Exile and make everything about it bigger. More weapons, classes, ascendancies, enemy variety, and even a bigger skill tree!
Originally they set the release date for December 6th, 2024, but we’re already so far into the year, and the game doesn’t look anywhere near done. This raises the question: Will Path of Exile leave early access in 2025?
This article seeks to give you some information on the matter so that you’re ready for whatever the future holds.

If you’re not one of the people waiting on the game to release their 1.0 version, and you’re deep in the proverbial mines of the game, then you probably would like to know. You can get help with the newly released league of the game by getting some currencies in sites like https://playhub.com/poe2/currency. More currencies mean better gear and items, which also makes the game easier and improves your enjoyment!

GGG’s Official Stance on Release Timing
Jonathan Rogers, the game's director, was very upfront during a panel at ExileCon. He said that the game releasing in 2025 was more of a target than a deadline. It was what they hoped for, but sadly we know how that usually goes.

That hedging is important. This genre of games has a lot of moving parts, and each one of them is a new thing to balance, patch, and synergize with every other moving part. Like the Well of Souls, Desecrated Mods, and the heavily restructured passive tree, the chance of bugs, exploits, and broken builds skyrockets. GGG knows this. They’ve delayed content before, and their willingness to hold back a release rather than launch a half-baked product suggests that 2026 is a real possibility.

Patch 0.3: A Case Study in the Game’s Progress
The most recent major update, Patch 0.3 “The Third Edict,” is a perfect example of why full release might not be ready for 2025.
The patch introduced:

Act 4 and new interludes expanding the campaign.
The Rise of the Abyssals league, bringing new mechanics and enemies.
Reworks to the passive tree and support gems that dramatically changed builds.
Numerous bug fixes, economy tweaks, and quality-of-life updates.

It was ambitious, but also rocky. Players immediately found issues with balance, build diversity, and reward structures. Some builds became nearly unplayable, while others soared in power. Loot distribution also felt inconsistent, leading to debates about whether the grind was rewarding enough.
If a single patch can swing the meta this dramatically, it shows how much refinement is still required before PoE2 is “ready” for a full release.

Bugs, QoL Issues, and Community Frustrations
Another factor slowing down full release is bug squashing and quality-of-life improvements. Players frequently report:

Invincible mobs caused by desync.
Quest progression glitches.
UI clutter, especially with sockets and inventory management.
Certain bosses feeling overtuned while others are trivial.

These are pretty far from big problems because we know this will be fixed soon. After all, that’s what early access is for! However, it’s still very important to use a lot of resources to iron this out. You don’t want someone’s first impression of the game to be a cluncky mess! You have to work on what’s in the game before you make more of it. This, naturally, would cause the game’s full release to be pushed back.

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The Weight of Community Expectations
Perhaps the biggest obstacle is not technical, but psychological. The community’s expectations are enormous. Players want PoE2 to be the next great ARPG, one that not only rivals other current ARPGs, but also redefines the genre.
This means:

The campaign has to be engaging, replayable, and narratively strong.
The endgame must offer near-infinite progression without burnout.
Loot and crafting systems need to strike the perfect balance between grind and reward.
Build diversity has to remain vast, or PoE loses its identity.

That’s a mountain of expectations, and any stumble invites criticism. GGG’s careful pacing shows they’re aware of this pressure. However, time still moves forward, and they consistently show the progress they make through livestreams and very in-detail patch notes.

So… Will PoE2 Leave Early Access in 2025?
The safe bet is: probably not. While GGG would love to hit that target, the state of the game, the pace of patches, and the unresolved issues suggest a 2026 release is more realistic.
That said, Early Access itself isn’t a death sentence. It’s not hard to find plenty of examples of games that thrived in Early Access for years before their official release. If PoE2 can keep players engaged with regular leagues, balance fixes, and meaningful updates, the community may be patient enough to wait!

While you’re waiting, you might as well consider getting a PoE2 currency boost so that when the full game does arrive, your character is ready for it!

FAQs About PoE2’s Early Access Future
Q1: Why is PoE2 taking so long to leave Early Access?
Because it’s balancing two games at once, overhauling core systems, and addressing massive community expectations.

Q2: Has GGG given an official release date for PoE2?
No. The developers have said 2025 is their goal, but it was never guaranteed.

Q3: What’s the biggest challenge holding PoE2 back?
Build diversity and passive tree design, along with bug fixes and economy balancing.

Q4: Will PoE2 replace PoE1 when it fully releases?
No. PoE1 has its own campaign worth playing through!

Q5: How often are new updates released in Early Access?
So far, large patches like 0.3 have rolled out every few months, with smaller hotfixes in between.

Q6: Should players invest time in PoE2 now, or wait for full release?
If you enjoy testing evolving systems and don’t mind occasional bugs, jump in now. Besides, the developers could use all the feedback you can give! If you prefer a polished experience, waiting may be the smarter move.
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Wrapping Up
A lot of gamers were worried about what it could mean that the game might take longer to release than what they had previously said. However, if you’re worried about the quality of the game, then that means you probably haven’t tried it for yourself!
GGG has proven time and time again that they’re willing to listen to the community in the most important matters regarding their games. Applying changes and adding things requested by fans. So don’t feel bad if you buy PoE 2 currencies because it was still a good investment! As a very famous quote says, “A delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is forever bad.”