So, you’re staring at the Steam page or the PlayStation Store and seeing a $30 price tag on a game that was promised to be free. It feels like a bait-and-switch, right? Especially when every headline for the last year has been screaming about the "launch" of Path of Exile 2.
But here is the reality: Path of Exile 2 is not technically "out" yet.
What you’re seeing right now is the Early Access phase. It’s basically a paid VIP lounge where Grinding Gear Games (GGG) lets the die-hards break the game so it doesn't crumble when the floodgates actually open. If you want to know when you can stop clutching your wallet and start blasting through Wraeclast for zero dollars, we need to look at the 2026 roadmap and the "1.0" milestone.
The Short Answer: When is Path of Exile 2 Free to Play?
If you are looking for a calendar date to circle, you aren't going to find a firm one from the developers just yet. However, we can read the room. Based on the current development pace and GGG’s internal goals, Path of Exile 2 is expected to become fully free to play in late 2026.
The "free" version of the game is tied to the 1.0 official launch. Right now, we are in the 0.x.x era. Jonathan Rogers, the game's director, has been pretty candid about the fact that they won't flip the F2P switch until the campaign is finished (we’re still missing Act 5 and Act 6) and the endgame systems are polished to a mirror shine.
Honestly, the target has shifted. Originally, people hoped for a mid-2025 full release, but as of early 2026, we are still seeing major overhauls to core systems like crafting and the mapping endgame. GGG has a reputation for "it's done when it's done," and they're sticking to it.
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Why Does it Cost Money Right Now?
It's a "Supporter Pack" model. You aren't technically buying the game; you’re buying $30 worth of in-game currency (Points) and getting a "key" to the Early Access as a thank-you gift.
- The $30 Entry Fee: This is the baseline "Early Access Supporter Pack."
- The "Legacy" Way In: If you’ve spent a total of $480 over the lifetime of Path of Exile 1, you likely got an invite for free.
- The Microtransactions: Just like the first game, your stash tabs and skins from PoE 1 carry over.
If you’re broke or just principled about not paying for betas, you have two choices: wait for the 1.0 release in late 2026, or keep an eye out for Free Weekends.
The "Free Weekend" Loophole
Here is something most people forget. GGG has started doing "Free Weekends" to coincide with major patch launches. We saw this back in August 2025 with The Third Edict update and again in December 2025 for The Last of the Druids.
Basically, they open the servers for 72 hours. Anyone can download the client, make a character, and play as much as they want. When the weekend ends, you lose access unless you buy a pack, but your progress is saved. If you wait another four months for the next Free Weekend, your character will be right where you left them.
It’s a slow way to play, but it’s the only way to play for free right now.
What Needs to Happen Before 1.0?
GGG isn't just sitting on the game to collect $30 checks. The list of "to-dos" before the free-to-play launch is actually massive.
Finishing the Campaign
We currently have four acts. They are beefy, sure, but the story isn't over. Acts 5 and 6 are expected to drop throughout 2026. Word on the street is Act 5 might arrive with Patch 0.5.0, which rumors suggest is coming in April 2026.
The Class Rollout
We’re still missing the Duelist, Marauder, Shadow, and Templar. While GGG has said they might not need every single ascendancy class finished for 1.0, they definitely want the base archetypes and their specific weapon types (like Swords and Shields) fully implemented.
The Endgame Rework
This is the big one. The community has been vocal about the current "mapping" system in PoE 2 being a bit too punishing. GGG is reportedly working on a massive endgame overhaul for the mid-2026 update. They won't go F2P until they know the "hook" that keeps people playing for 1,000 hours is actually fun.
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Is Waiting for F2P Actually Worth It?
Look, $30 is a lot for a beta, but let’s be real about the monetization. Path of Exile is "free," but if you want to play the endgame seriously, you will end up buying stash tabs. You need a Map Tab. You need a Currency Tab. You need Premium Tabs to sell items to other players.
If you buy the Early Access pack for $30, you get 300 points. You can use those points to buy all the essential tabs right now.
If you wait until the game is "Free" in late 2026, you'll still probably end up spending that $20–$30 on tabs anyway just to have a functional experience. You're basically just choosing whether to pay now and play early, or pay later and skip the bugs.
What You Should Do Right Now
If you are dying to play but can't swing the $30, don't just refresh the Steam page every day.
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- Play Path of Exile 1: It’s actually free. Right now. It’s also a completely different game in terms of "feel" (much faster, more "zoom-zoom"), but the lore sets the stage for PoE 2.
- Watch the Patch Cycle: Keep an eye on the April 2026 update. If GGG announces another Free Weekend, that is your chance to trial the new Druid or Sorceress classes without spending a dime.
- Check Your PoE 1 Account: Log into the official Path of Exile website and check your transaction history. You might be closer to that $480 "lifetime spend" threshold than you realize, which would grant you instant access to PoE 2.
The road to the 1.0 launch is long, and 2026 is going to be a year of massive patches and growing pains. If you want a polished, bug-free, totally free experience, sit tight until the holiday season of 2026. If you just want to kill some monsters and don't mind the occasional server crash, the $30 "Supporter Pack" is effectively a pre-order for the stash tabs you'll eventually need anyway.
Actionable Next Step: Go to the official Path of Exile website and link your Steam/Console account. This ensures that if you do get a random invite or participate in a Free Weekend, your progress and any future "loyalty" rewards are tracked correctly across both games.