Overview
- Grinding Gear Games confirmed at ExileCon on Friday that Path of Exile 2 will leave early access and go free-to-play with a full 1.0 release on December 11, 2026.
- The launch adds two playable classes: the Shadow, a dagger-and-trap class built around a new Stealth mechanic, a Darkness resource, and two starting ascendancies including Assassin; and the Duelist, which brings swords, stances and a Knight ascendancy that includes a Squire companion, war banners and a mounted charge.
- Acts 5 and 6 complete the campaign with roughly 24 new areas and 18 unique bosses, and the update includes more than 25 new maps plus broad overhauls to gems, supports, uniques and core item systems.
- A new Conquerors of Wraeclast league lets players build castles, recruit armies and appoint commanders who can run maps for them, while three rival factions will contest shared strongholds that grant map access and loot bonuses.
- The 1.0 launch will arrive on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S with ten of the planned twelve classes available at day one, a delayed transfer of some microtransaction systems, and performance and atlas changes developers say will alter long-term build progression.