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

The developers behind *Path of Exile* have issued a sincere apology to longtime fans of the original game after postponing its latest update in favor of stabilizing the highly anticipated sequel, *Path of Exile 2*. Grinding Gear Games (GGG), the studio behind both titles, had assured players that support for *Path of Exile 1*—a free-to-play action RPG with over a decade of continuous updates—would continue through the launch and beyond of *Path of Exile 2*. Unfortunately, things didn’t go according to plan.

The 3.26 update for *Path of Exile 1*, initially slated for late October ahead of *Path of Exile 2*'s release, was then pushed back to mid-February 2025. However, it has now been delayed once again as the entire development team focuses on resolving critical issues in *Path of Exile 2*. The last major league update for *Path of Exile 1*, titled “Settlers of Kalguur,” launched in July 2024.

Behind the Delay

In a candid video message, Jonathan Rogers, co-founder of GGG and game director of *Path of Exile 2*, explained how the studio temporarily reassigned the *Path of Exile 1* development team to help stabilize the sequel’s endgame content before its December launch. The assumption was that they would return in time to finalize the 3.26 update for an early February release window.

“We were fooling ourselves,” Rogers admitted. The reality of *Path of Exile 2*'s technical and balance-related challenges quickly became apparent. Not only was the sequel delayed a few weeks beyond its original launch date, but it also faced widespread crashes and gameplay imbalances that required immediate attention.

“How could I justify taking some of the most experienced developers we have off PoE2 when it’s on fire?” Rogers asked rhetorically.

What This Means for Path of Exile 1

As a result, the *Path of Exile 1* development team remains focused on *Path of Exile 2* until version 0.2.0 is released—and likely for a couple of weeks after that. Currently, *Path of Exile 2* is at version 0.1.1, indicating that the game is still in a relatively early phase of development.

Rogers acknowledged the misstep: “I’m really sorry for how this went down. Honestly, I should have predicted that pulling the *Path of Exile 1* team off their project would lead to this outcome. I probably should have resisted doing it. But at every stage, I kept thinking, ‘we still have time,’ and then we didn’t.”

He also admitted that the studio is still learning how to manage two live games simultaneously and that overconfidence played a role in the current situation. However, he assured fans that there is a clear plan in place for what the 3.26 update will deliver once the team returns to *Path of Exile 1*.

Massive Success for Path of Exile 2

Despite the rocky start, *Path of Exile 2* made a powerful debut when it launched into Early Access on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on December 6, 2024. The game saw overwhelming player numbers and engagement, earning its spot as the 15th most-played game on Steam ever.

Which Path of Exile 2 Class Are You Enjoying Most?

SorceressWarriorRangerWitchMercenaryMonk

Getting Started in Path of Exile 2

If you're diving into *Path of Exile 2* Early Access, here are some helpful resources to get you started:

• Class Guide: Learn which class suits your playstyle best.
• Mercenary Build Guide: Maximize your damage and survivability with our early Mercenary build suggestions.
• Sorceress Build Guide: Harness elemental power and dominate the battlefield with these Sorceress strategies.
• Tips & Tricks: From gathering Spirit to mastering trading mechanics and ascending characters, we’ve got detailed guides to help you level up faster and survive longer.

Stay tuned for further updates on the status of *Path of Exile 1*'s 3.26 patch and continued improvements to *Path of Exile 2*. For now, the Grinding Gear Games team is laser-focused on delivering a stable, balanced, and deeply engaging experience across both titles.