Grinding Gear Games, the developer behind the acclaimed Path of Exile series, has issued an apology to the dedicated fans of the original game after announcing a delay in the much-anticipated update for Path of Exile 1. Initially set for a late October release, followed by a rescheduled mid-February launch, the 3.26 update for Path of Exile 1 is now on indefinite hold as the studio shifts its focus to resolve critical issues with Path of Exile 2 ahead of its early access release. The last league update for Path of Exile 1, Settlers of Kalguur, was released in July 2024.

In a candid video message, Jonathan Rogers, game director of Path of Exile 2 and co-founder of Grinding Gear Games, explained the situation. The team working on Path of Exile 1 was reassigned to tackle the endgame challenges of Path of Exile 2, with the initial belief that they could return in time to meet the mid-February deadline for the 3.26 update. However, the complexity and urgency of Path of Exile 2's issues, including crashes and balance problems, made it clear that this was not feasible. "We were fooling ourselves," Rogers admitted, acknowledging the unrealistic expectations set for the team.

Rogers emphasized the necessity of keeping the most experienced developers on Path of Exile 2, especially as it approached its launch. "How could I justify taking some of the most experienced developers we have off PoE2 when it’s on fire?" he questioned, highlighting the critical state of the game. The Path of Exile 1 team will continue to support Path of Exile 2 until the 0.2.0 update is released and for a few weeks following, leaving the 3.26 update's release date uncertain. "Unfortunately, I just can’t promise a date right now," Rogers stated, reflecting on the current version of Path of Exile 2 at 0.1.1.

Expressing his regret, Rogers apologized for the impact on Path of Exile 1's community, admitting that better foresight could have prevented the current predicament. "I should have predicted the fact that taking the Path of Exile 1 team off Path of Exile 1 would lead to this outcome," he confessed. He also acknowledged the studio's overconfidence in managing two games simultaneously and the ongoing learning curve in structuring the studio to handle such a task effectively. Despite the setbacks, Rogers assured fans that there is a solid plan in place for the 3.26 update.

Path of Exile 2 finally launched in early access on December 6, 2024, across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S, achieving significant success by becoming the 15th most-played game on Steam. For players diving into Path of Exile 2, resources are available on which class to choose, including detailed guides on early builds for the Mercenary and Sorceress classes, as well as tips on acquiring Spirit, trading, and ascending within the game.