Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2 officially entered early access on December 6, 2024. Since then, the game has already made a strong impression. The early access version includes the first three acts of the campaign and enough endgame content to keep players grinding for months. But for those who haven't tried it yet, it raises a fair question: when is the full release actually happening?

So far, Grinding Gear Games hasn't given a real date. And they're not really the kind of studio to rush a launch just to meet a deadline. If you look back at the original Path of Exile, it stayed in open beta for about ten months before hitting version 1.0. Using that timeline, some players expected PoE 2 to fully release by summer 2025. That obviously didn't happen.

That said, there's no sign of delays in the usual sense. The early access version already runs well, feels polished, and is packed with systems that feel close to final. What's likely happening is that the devs are taking their time to finish what's left: additional acts, full story content, and fine-tuning balance based on feedback from early players.

And really, that approach makes sense. Path of Exile 2 isn't just a re-skin or a big expansion. It's a full sequel with new classes, a fresh campaign, different skill mechanics, and major visual upgrades. Everything from movement to combat pacing feels different compared to the first game. They're building a standalone game that's meant to live for years, and rushing to hit a calendar date would be a mistake.

Right now, the early access build shows a lot of promise. The skill gem system is deeper than ever, the animation quality is a huge step up, and the combat feels tight. Most of the rough edges that you'd expect in a pre-release game just aren't there. That's why many in the community expect the full release to land sometime in late 2025, or maybe in the fall or winter.

That timeline gives Grinding Gear Games room to finish the campaign, polish the rest of the classes, and make sure the big systems like loot balance and endgame content are in a solid place. They've been pretty consistent about one thing over the years: they'd rather get things right than get them out fast. And for a game like PoE 2, that's probably the smarter move.

If you're on the fence about jumping in now, it depends on what you're looking for. If you enjoy testing systems, exploring PoE Builds, and don't mind missing some of the finished content, early access is already surprisingly generous. If you'd rather play everything in one go with no missing pieces, waiting a few more months might be the better call.

Either way, it's clear that Path of Exile 2 is off to a strong start. The early version already feels more focused than most full releases. When the full game does land, it won't just be a patch or a content dump; it'll be the launch of a game built to last.

And if the current pace continues, that day probably isn't too far off. Late 2025 feels like a realistic guess, and by the time it arrives, there's a good chance PoE 2 will be ready to fully step out from its predecessor's shadow.