"Path of Exile 1 3.26 Development Paused Until Path of Exile 2 0.2.0 Release, Dev Apologizes"

Grinding Gear Games (GGG), the developer behind the acclaimed Path of Exile series, recently issued an apology to fans of the original game. The studio had to delay the much-anticipated 3.26 update for Path of Exile 1 until a critical update for Path of Exile 2 is released. Path of Exile 1, a beloved action RPG that has been captivating players for over a decade, was promised continued updates even after the release of Path of Exile 2 in early access.

Originally slated for a late October release before the launch of Path of Exile 2, the 3.26 update was later rescheduled for mid-February. However, the latest development has seen further delays as the entire team shifts focus to resolve pressing issues with Path of Exile 2. The last league released for Path of Exile 1 was the Settlers of Kalguur in July 2024.

In a candid video message, Jonathan Rogers, game director of Path of Exile 2 and co-founder of GGG, explained the situation. The Path of Exile 1 team was reassigned to tackle the endgame challenges of Path of Exile 2 ahead of its December launch, with the hope of returning to complete the 3.26 update by mid-February. However, the complexity and severity of Path of Exile 2's problems, including crashes and balance issues, made this impossible.

"We were fooling ourselves," Rogers admitted, highlighting the urgent need to keep the most experienced developers focused on Path of Exile 2. "How could I justify taking some of the most experienced developers we have off PoE2 when it's on fire?" he questioned.

The Path of Exile 1 team will remain dedicated to Path of Exile 2 until the release of version 0.2.0 and likely a few weeks beyond. Rogers expressed regret over the situation, acknowledging his misjudgment in pulling the team away from Path of Exile 1. "I should have predicted the fact that taking the Path of Exile 1 team off Path of Exile 1 would lead to this outcome," he confessed.

GGG is still learning how to manage two games simultaneously and admitted to being overconfident in their initial approach. Rogers shared that the studio is working on restructuring to better support both games moving forward and outlined a solid plan for the 3.26 update.

Path of Exile 2's early access launched successfully on December 6, 2024, across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S, becoming the 15th most-played game on Steam. For those diving into the new release, guides on class selection, including an early Mercenary build and Sorceress build, are available to help players get started. Additionally, resources on acquiring more Spirit, trading, and ascending are provided to enhance the gaming experience.

For fans eager to know which Path of Exile 2 class they might enjoy the most, consider the following options:

• Sorceress
• Warrior
• Ranger
• Witch
• Mercenary
• Monk