'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

The developers behind *Path of Exile*, Grinding Gear Games (GGG), have issued a sincere apology to longtime fans of the original game following delays in updates for *Path of Exile 1*. The studio had initially assured players that both *Path of Exile 1* and its sequel, *Path of Exile 2*, would receive consistent support throughout the development and launch of the latter.

However, the planned 3.26 update for *Path of Exile 1*, originally scheduled for late October ahead of *Path of Exile 2*'s launch, then pushed to mid-February 2025, has now been postponed indefinitely. This decision was made as the development team focuses all available resources on resolving critical issues with *Path of Exile 2*. The last major content drop for *Path of Exile 1* was the Settlers of Kalguur league in July 2024.

In a recent video message, Jonathan Rogers, co-founder of GGG and game director of *Path of Exile 2*, shared the reasoning behind the delay. He revealed that the team working on *Path of Exile 1* had been temporarily reassigned to help stabilize the endgame experience for *Path of Exile 2* before its December 2024 early access release. The plan had been to return them to work on the 3.26 update afterward—but that proved unfeasible.

“We were fooling ourselves,” Rogers admitted candidly. The launch of *Path of Exile 2* faced several setbacks, including performance crashes and balance issues that demanded immediate attention. “How could I justify taking some of the most experienced developers we have off PoE2 when it’s on fire?” he asked.

As a result, the *Path of Exile 1* development team remains focused on *Path of Exile 2* until at least version 0.2.0 is released—likely followed by a few additional weeks of stabilization. At the moment, *Path of Exile 2* is still on version 0.1.1, and Rogers acknowledged that he cannot provide a firm release date for the 3.26 update just yet.

“I’m really sorry for how this went down,” Rogers continued. “Honestly, I should have predicted the consequences of pulling the *Path of Exile 1* team away from their project. I probably should have resisted doing so. But at every stage, I kept thinking, ‘we still have time.’ And then suddenly, we didn’t.”

He also admitted that GGG is still learning how to manage two live titles simultaneously and that the studio structure needs refinement to make dual-game development sustainable. Despite the current challenges, Rogers emphasized that there is a clear vision for what the team wants to achieve with the upcoming 3.26 update for *Path of Exile 1*.

Path of Exile 2 finally launched into early access on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on December 6, 2024. Despite its rocky start, the game saw an impressive reception, quickly rising to become the 15th most-played game on Steam ever.

Which Path of Exile 2 Class Are You Enjoying Most?

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For those diving into *Path of Exile 2* early access, choosing the right class can significantly enhance your gameplay experience. Whether you're leaning toward raw power with the Mercenary or harnessing elemental destruction as a Sorceress, our detailed build guides will help you get started. Additionally, if you're curious about acquiring more Spirit, mastering trade mechanics, or unlocking Ascendancy classes, comprehensive guides are available to assist you through the game's complex systems.