'I'm Really Sorry for How This Went Down' — Work on Path of Exile 1 3.26 on Hold Until Path of Exile 2 0.2.0 Has Shipped, Dev Says

Grinding Gear Games has issued an apology to Path of Exile 1 players following the indefinite postponement of the 3.26 update. The studio had initially promised continued support for the decade-old action RPG alongside the launch of Path of Exile 2. However, the 3.26 update, initially slated for late October 2024, then mid-February 2025, has been delayed indefinitely due to the unforeseen challenges encountered with Path of Exile 2.

In a video message, Game Director Jonathan Rogers explained that the Path of Exile 1 team was reassigned to assist with Path of Exile 2's endgame development before its December launch. While the intention was to return to the 3.26 update by mid-February, the unexpected magnitude of issues plaguing Path of Exile 2—including crashes and balance problems—necessitated the continued focus on the sequel. Rogers admitted that the studio underestimated the challenges involved, stating, "We were fooling ourselves."

The decision to prioritize Path of Exile 2, even at the expense of the 3.26 update, was deemed necessary by Rogers. He explained that diverting experienced developers away from the struggling sequel would be irresponsible. The delay of Path of Exile 2 itself, coupled with its launch issues, further complicated the situation.

Rogers expressed sincere apologies for the situation, acknowledging the studio's overconfidence in managing two games simultaneously. He admitted that a better understanding of resource allocation and studio structure is needed to prevent similar occurrences in the future. While a release date for the 3.26 update remains unconfirmed, Rogers assured players that a plan is in place for its eventual development.

Path of Exile 2's early access launch on December 6th, 2024, across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, proved highly successful, achieving remarkable player numbers and securing its place as one of Steam's most played games ever.

For those diving into Path of Exile 2, resources are available to aid in character selection, build creation (including Mercenary and Sorceress builds), and navigating in-game mechanics such as Spirit acquisition, trading, and ascensions.