Path of Exile 2: Expected Release Date & Gameplay Changes

Path of Exile is an action RPG, or ARPG, aging like fine wine. Since its release in 2013, it has gained millions of devout players and consistently tops Twitch viewership charts whenever a new seasonal league is released. 

However, since the announcement of Path of Exile 2, fans have eagerly awaiting any breadcrumb updates regarding the game's development and its upcoming beta test. 

Instead of taking over the original PoE like Blizzard Entertainment did with Overwatch, PoE 2 will be a standalone sequel to the OG 2013 game, set to rival the likes of Diablo 4 and The Last Epoch. It'll maintain its nuanced build crafting and skill trees while adding a fresh campaign, new skills, and classes, all under the banner of revitalized and modernized graphics to befit the next-gen of consoles and PCs. 

Here's everything we know about Path of Exile 2, including its potential release date, gameplay changes, new character classes, and more! 

Path of Exile 2: Release Date Estimate

The Path of Exile 2 closed beta test was initially meant to be released on June 7, 2024. However, the New-Zealand-based developers Grinding Gear Games have since delayed it.

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), they explained that the studio "underestimated how long it would take to get gameplay polished to a standard [they're] happy with." 

They will continue to do alpha testing in June but are delaying the closed beta test until later in the year. They don't have a confirmed date yet but have advised that the beta test will be before the end of 2024. This puts Path of Exile on a timeline of exiting early access sometime in 2025 or 2026. 

Currently, there is no concrete information on how players can gain access to the beta for Path of Exile 2. It may follow the same pattern as the original game, where the beta test was available for players who purchased a supporter pack. This seems likely, especially as Path of Exile 2 will follow the same free-to-play model as the original Path of Exile. 

It's also possible that players may be able to register for a chance to join, or that there will be a Path of Exile 2 open beta test for more players after the initial closed beta phase. Once more information about how to gain access to the PoE 2 beta is released, we'll update this section accordingly. 

Upon its release, Path of Exile 2 will available to download and play for free on Windows and macOS, as well as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S for console users. Path of Exile 2 already has its own Steam page, ready for players to add to their wishlists.

Path of Exile 2: Gameplay Differences

While some players are convinced that Path of Exile 2 will be the same as the original game, PoE 2 Game Director Johnathan Rogers has confirmed there will be vital differences. 

In a statement, he said, "each game will feature its own mechanics, balance, and leagues." One of the most significant changes will be to combat. All character classes will have a dodge roll with no cooldown or other limitations. While it doesn't provide invulnerability to attacks, timing the dodge roll correctly will cause enemy melee strikes and projectiles to miss. 

Path of Exile 2 will also feature over 700 equipment base types and new weapons like Spears, Flails, Traps, and Crossbows, making for even more build options. 

Path of Exile 2 uncut gems are a unique item allowing players to choose from any skill, adjusted at an appropriate level for your current in-game progression. Support gems will also be directly applied to chosen skill gems, so crafting or looting armor with linked gems is no longer necessary. 

While these games will exist as two separate entities, Rogers has said that Path of Exile 1 & 2 will have a shared platform moving forward. This means that all microtransactions, past, present, and future, will carry across both games.  

Path of Exile 2: Confirmed Classes

Path of Exile 2 has been confirmed to feature six new character classes alongside the originals from the first Path of Exile, making for a total of twelve classes. There will be a new class for each of the main and hybrid stat distributions, as listed below. 

All classes start at the same places on the passive skill tree but will get their own quest rewards and special Ascendancies at endgame. 

• Dexterity: Ranger and Huntress
• Intelligence: Witch and Sorceress
• Strength: Marauder and Warrior
• Dexterity/Intelligence: Shadow and Monk
• Strength/Dexterity: Duellist and Mercenary
• Strength/Intelligence: Templar and Druid

Path of Exile 2: Leagues

Path of Exile 2 leagues will operate on a 13-week cycle. These will be similar to seasons seen in other RPGs like Diablo 4, where you can choose to create a new seasonal character to begin again at level one. 

Seasonal leagues will have unique mechanics, the same as Path of Exile 1. These usually introduce new mechanics, ranging from a tower defense mini-game to exploring procedurally-generated dungeons alongside the main campaign, as examples from PoE 1. 

Path of Exile 2: Gameplay Trailers

Straight from ExileCon 2023, there was a brand-new PoE 2 gameplay trailer, giving players a taster of what PoE 2 is looking like so far, including a brief first look at some bosses and the overall story.

More recently, they have also done walkthroughs of each individual new class, including the Ranger. Keep an eye on the official Path of Exile YouTube channel for more exclusive insights into the game's development.

Is Path of Exile 2 a sequel?

Developer Grinding Gear Games have confirmed that Path of Exile 2 will be a completely separate game from the first PoE. This is a complete 360 from what they originally said when they announced Path of Exile 2 in 2019. They had initially said that both games would co-exist as one singular entity, where players could choose to play the new campaign or the old one, ultimately with the same endgame. 

However, at ExileCon 2023, Grinding Gear Games announced that Path of Exile 2 will be completely standalone. As such, the OG and new game will both run side-by-side with online multiplayer and other features still supported for the 2013 online RPG. 

At the conclusion of Path of Exile 2's six-act campaign, there will be over 100 different endgame maps, each with its own boss fight and modifiers. 

Final Thoughts

That was everything we know about the official Path of Exile 2 release date and gameplay details, which is one of the most highly-anticipated games in 2024. Once the beta's release date is confirmed, we'll update this article accordingly. 

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