The studio behind Path of Exile has issued an apology to fans of the original game after postponing a scheduled update to focus on crucial fixes for Path of Exile 2.

Grinding Gear Games previously assured players they would continue supporting the decade-old Action RPG Path of Exile 1 throughout PoE2's early access period and beyond. However, PoE1's anticipated 3.26 update - initially scheduled for late October before PoE2's launch, then pushed to mid-February - faces further delays as developers prioritize resolving PoE2's issues. The last major content release for PoE1 was the Settlers of Kalguur league in July 2024.

Development Resources Diverted

In a candid video update, Path of Exile 2 game director and GGG co-founder Jonathan Rogers explained the studio reassigned PoE1's development team to address PoE2's endgame challenges ahead of December's launch. The team expected to return for PoE1's February update but encountered unexpected hurdles.

"We were overly optimistic," Rogers admitted. Beyond PoE2's minor delay, critical stability and balance issues demanded immediate attention. "How could we justify pulling our most experienced developers from PoE2 during such critical problems?" Rogers questioned.

The PoE1 team will continue supporting PoE2 until at least several weeks after version 0.2.0 launches. Currently at 0.1.1, Rogers conceded, "We can't commit to a concrete timeline yet."

Studio Admits Misjudgment

"I genuinely regret how this situation unfolded," Rogers stated. "In hindsight, diverting PoE1's development resources inevitably led us here. I kept convincing myself we had enough time, until suddenly we didn't."

The director acknowledged the challenges of maintaining two major titles simultaneously: "We underestimated the complexity of operating two live games. While we're developing better studio structures for this reality, we've established clear plans for PoE1's 3.26 update."

Path of Exile 2 launched successfully on December 6, 2024 across PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, quickly becoming Steam's 15th most-played game historically.

Player Resources Available

For new PoE2 players, comprehensive guides cover optimal class selection, including specialized builds for Mercenary and Sorceress characters. Additional resources explain Spirit acquisition, trading mechanics, and ascension progression.