Path of Exile's developer, Grinding Gear Games (GGG), has issued an apology to Path of Exile 1 players for delaying the 3.26 update. The delay stems from the need to prioritize addressing critical issues within the recently released Path of Exile 2.
GGG had initially committed to supporting Path of Exile 1 concurrently with the launch of Path of Exile 2. However, the anticipated October, and later February, release of Path of Exile 1's 3.26 update has been postponed indefinitely. The last league for Path of Exile 1, Settlers of Kalguur, launched in July 2024.
In a video statement, Jonathan Rogers, Path of Exile 2's game director and GGG co-founder, explained that the Path of Exile 1 development team was reassigned to assist with Path of Exile 2's endgame development before its December launch. The expectation was that they could return to Path of Exile 1's 3.26 update in time for a mid-February release.
This proved unrealistic due to unforeseen challenges with Path of Exile 2, including crashes and balance issues requiring immediate attention. Rogers acknowledged the studio's misjudgment, stating they were "fooling ourselves" regarding the available time. Path of Exile 2 itself experienced a short delay and required immediate fixes.
Rogers emphasized the decision to keep the experienced developers focused on resolving Path of Exile 2's problems, stating, "How could I justify taking some of the most experienced developers we have off PoE2 when it’s on fire?"
The Path of Exile 1 team remains dedicated to Path of Exile 2, and their work will continue until at least the release of Path of Exile 2's 0.2.0 update, and likely for a couple of weeks afterward. A release date for Path of Exile 1's 3.26 update remains unconfirmed.
Rogers expressed sincere apologies for the situation, admitting to overconfidence and a need to refine the studio's approach to managing simultaneous game development. He assured players that a solid plan for 3.26 is in place.
Path of Exile 2's early access launch on December 6th, 2024, across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, was a resounding success, achieving remarkable player numbers and becoming one of Steam's most-played games ever.
AnswerSee Results The article also provides links to guides for character selection and gameplay strategies in Path of Exile 2.
