Grinding Gear Games has issued an apology to Path of Exile 1 players following the indefinite postponement of the 3.26 update. The developer had initially promised continued updates for the decade-old action RPG, even after the launch of Path of Exile 2. However, the October (later February) release target for 3.26 has been scrapped due to the need to address critical issues within Path of Exile 2’s early access release.

In a video message, game director Jonathan Rogers explained that the Path of Exile 1 team was reassigned to assist with Path of Exile 2’s endgame development before its December launch. While the intention was to resume work on 3.26 afterward, the unforeseen scale of Path of Exile 2’s launch problems—including crashes and balance issues—necessitated the continued focus on the sequel. Rogers admitted that the studio’s optimism was misplaced, stating they were “fooling ourselves” about having sufficient time to manage both projects concurrently.

The decision to prioritize Path of Exile 2, Rogers explained, stemmed from the need to address its immediate problems. He stated, “How could I justify taking some of the most experienced developers we have off PoE2 when it’s on fire?” Path of Exile 2’s launch, originally delayed by a few weeks, suffered from significant issues requiring immediate attention.

Currently, the Path of Exile 1 team remains focused on Path of Exile 2, with work expected to continue until at least the release of Path of Exile 2 version 0.2.0, and possibly a couple of weeks beyond. Rogers acknowledged the lack of a concrete release date for the 3.26 update, expressing sincere apologies for the situation and admitting the studio’s overconfidence in managing both projects simultaneously. He stated, “I’m really sorry for how this went down…We were overconfident. We still need to work out how to structure our studio to make this possible.” A plan for 3.26’s development is in place, however.

Path of Exile 2’s early access launch on December 6th, 2024, across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, was met with considerable success, becoming one of Steam’s most-played games ever. Resources are available for players including class selection guides, build guides (Mercenary and Sorceress), and tips on Spirit acquisition, trading, and ascension.