Let's be real: we've all been hurt by "soon" before. If you've spent any time in Wraeclast, you know that Grinding Gear Games (GGG) operates on a timeline that usually looks like "it's done when it's done." But right now, everyone is asking the same thing: when will poe 2 full release?
We’re currently sitting in 2026, and the landscape has changed quite a bit since the Early Access doors first swung open back in December 2024. Back then, the devs were tossing around "six months" like it was a sure thing. Well, June 2025 came and went, and we’re still very much in the thick of the "beta" phase. If you're looking for a simple date to circle on your calendar, you won't find one—not yet. But the breadcrumbs are everywhere, and honestly, they're pointing toward a very specific window later this year.
The 2026 Reality Check: Where We Actually Are
The game director, Jonathan Rogers, has been pretty vocal about the fact that they never intended for Early Access to drag on this long. In a late 2025 interview with PC Gamer, Mark Roberts (the co-director) basically said he’d be "beyond, beyond shocked" if the game wasn't fully released in 2026.
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That’s about as close to a promise as you get from GGG.
But why the hold-up? It basically comes down to Act 5 and Act 6. The "full release" version—version 1.0—is defined by the completion of the campaign. Right now, we’ve been grinding through the first four acts and a massive chunk of endgame, but those final chapters are the gatekeepers. GGG is stubborn about the campaign being a "real banger" before they flip the switch to free-to-play.
The League Cycle and the 1.0 Countdown
If you want to track the progress, look at the patches. The game has moved to a roughly four-month league cycle. We just saw the 0.4 update drop in December 2025, which finally gave us the Druid class (a year late, but who’s counting?).
Here is how the 2026 roadmap is shaping up based on the current cadence:
- April 2026 (Patch 0.5.0): This is the "Endgame Rebirth" update. It’s expected to overhaul the mapping system because, let's face it, the current death penalties are a bit much. This patch might also sneak in the Duelist or the Templar.
- August/September 2026 (Patch 0.6.0): This is the final polish phase. This is where we expect the last of the campaign acts to be tested internally or teased.
- Late 2026 (The 1.0 Launch): If the four-month rhythm holds, December 2026 is the prime candidate for the full launch.
There's a lot of chatter about whether all 12 classes will be there at launch. Honestly? Probably not. The devs have explicitly stated that having the full campaign is more important than having every single class. If the Shadow or the Marauder aren't 100% perfect by the end of the year, they'll likely drop them in a 2027 expansion instead.
Why "Full Release" Actually Matters
For most of us playing right now, "full release" is just a label. We’re already playing. But for the wider world, it’s the moment Path of Exile 2 becomes free-to-play. Right now, you still have to buy a Supporter Pack to get in.
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When 1.0 hits:
- The gate drops and anyone can play for free.
- The full six-act story is finally told.
- The "Early Access" characters don't get wiped—they just move to a permanent league (though they’ll probably be "broken" by balance changes).
One thing to keep an eye on is the crossover with Path of Exile 1. GGG is still running leagues for the original game, usually offset by about a month. This "two-game" strategy is part of why development on PoE 2 slowed down in 2025. They realized they couldn't just abandon the veteran players who still prefer the zoomy, hyper-complex style of the first game.
What You Should Do Right Now
If you’re waiting for the 1.0 launch to start your journey, you might be waiting another ten months. Honestly, if you have any interest in the game, the current "Early Access" state is more polished than most finished AAA games.
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Actionable Steps for Players:
- Monitor the April Patch: The 0.5.0 update in April 2026 will be the "make or break" moment for the endgame. If that lands well, a December release is almost guaranteed.
- Don't Wait for F2P if You’re Itching to Play: The $30 entry fee for a Supporter Pack gives you points anyway. It’s basically pre-buying your stash tabs.
- Watch the Dev Streams: GGG usually does a "Live Reveal" about 8-10 days before a major patch. The late March stream will tell us everything we need to know about the road to 1.0.
The bottom line is that while 2025 was a year of delays and "re-adjusting," 2026 is the year of the finish line. We’re looking at a November or December 2026 full release, assuming the endgame rework doesn't set the office on fire. Keep your eyes on the April update; that’s the real indicator of how fast the train is moving.