Grinding Gear Games (GGG), the developer behind the beloved action RPG series Path of Exile, has 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, originally slated for late October 2024 and then rescheduled for mid-February 2025, due to ongoing issues with Path of Exile 2.
In a candid video message, Jonathan Rogers, game director of Path of Exile 2 and co-founder of GGG, explained the situation. The team working on Path of Exile 1 was reassigned to help resolve critical endgame issues with Path of Exile 2 ahead of its early access launch. Despite initial plans to return to Path of Exile 1's update after addressing Path of Exile 2's problems, the severity of the issues, including crashes and balance problems, made it impossible to meet the February deadline.
"We were fooling ourselves," Rogers admitted, acknowledging the unrealistic expectations set by the studio. The decision to keep the experienced developers focused on Path of Exile 2 was justified by the urgency of the situation. "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 continue to work on Path of Exile 2 until at least the release of version 0.2.0, with no specific date promised for the 3.26 update. Rogers expressed regret over the situation, admitting that he should have foreseen the consequences of pulling the team from Path of Exile 1. "I’m really sorry for how this went down," he said, emphasizing the studio's overconfidence and the challenges of managing two games simultaneously.
Path of Exile 2 finally launched in early access on December 6, 2024, across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S, achieving significant success by becoming the 15th most-played game on Steam.
For those diving into Path of Exile 2, guides on choosing the right class, including early build guides for the Mercenary and Sorceress, are available. Additionally, resources on how to acquire more Spirit, engage in trading, and ascend are provided to enhance your gaming experience.
Which Path of Exile 2 Class Are You Enjoying Most?
- Sorceress
- Warrior
- Ranger
- Witch
- Mercenary
- Monk
