Path of Exile 2 Guide#
A dark action RPG from the New Zealand studio Grinding Gear Games (GGG), and the sequel to the original Path of Exile. It is currently in Early Access: seven classes are playable, the combat pacing and control scheme have been rebuilt from the ground up compared to the first game, and the endgame revolves around the Atlas. The full release is dated, and the game turns free-to-play at that point.
Game Information#
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Grinding Gear Games (GGG) |
| Chinese release | Tencent (official localized title Path of Exile: Descend, WeGame only) |
| Genre | Action RPG (ARPG) |
| Release status | In Early Access |
| Early access start | December 6, 2024 (PC early access, paid supporter pack required) |
| Full release | December 11, 2026 (global), December 18, 2026 (China) |
| Monetization | Supporter pack purchase required during early access; free-to-play at full release |
| Platforms | PC (standalone client / Steam / Epic), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S |
| Multiplayer | Cross-play and cross-progression supported; couch co-op supported |
As of 2026-10-06, both release dates above are officially announced dates that have not yet arrived. The global site states plainly that the game “fully releases on December 11,” with the Chinese version Path of Exile: Descend following one week later.
Version Timeline#
The timeline below is compiled from the poe2wiki version history and official announcements, and can be checked against them directly:
| Version | Date | Content |
|---|---|---|
| 0.1.0 | 2024-12-06 | Early access begins, six launch classes |
| 0.2.0 | 2025-04-04 | Dawn of the Hunt: adds the seventh class Huntress, introduces spears and bucklers as weapon types, and gives three classes a third ascendancy |
| 0.3.0 | 2025-12-08 | Version update |
| 0.4.0 | 2025-12-12 | Version update |
| 0.5.0 | 2026-06-05 | Version update |
| 0.5.5 | 2026-09-03 | Forbidden Rites event patch |
| 1.0.0 | 2026-12-11 | Full release: early access ends, the game goes free-to-play, and the remaining story chapters are completed |
For the Chinese version, a first-anniversary celebration began on 2026-09-10; the full release is set for 2026-12-18, and players must pre-register on WeGame before launch.
The Seven Playable Classes#
Six classes shipped with the early access launch, and Dawn of the Hunt added the seventh. Each class has its own ascendancy branches:
| Class | Attribute | Primary Weapon |
|---|---|---|
| Mercenary | Dexterity / Strength | Crossbow |
| Ranger | Dexterity | Bow |
| Witch | Intelligence | Staff / Sceptre |
| Warrior | Strength | Mace / Club |
| Monk | Intelligence / Dexterity | Quarterstaff |
| Sorceress | Intelligence | Staff |
| Huntress | Dexterity | Spear / Buckler |
Four important notes:
- Class gender is locked and cannot be chosen freely at character creation.
- The game is planned around 12 classes in total. Still unreleased: Druid, Shadow, Templar, and Marauder.
- The full release adds an eighth class, the Duelist: pure sword, built around both sword-and-shield and dual-wield play.
- Any class can use any weapon and any skill. Class-weapon pairings are leveling suggestions only and are not restrictions.
Core Gameplay and Mechanics#
The following are verified mechanics you can safely rely on:
- Combat pacing: faster than the original, built around a new WASD keyboard movement scheme; the Sorceress can cast while moving.
- Skill gems: hundreds of active and support gems are already available in early access; the full release is marketed as “hundreds of active and passive skill gems.”
- Gear sockets: gear carries a visible socket and socket-link system. Socket converters exist but cannot be applied to omni sockets, confirmed against the patch records of a Chinese speedrun site.
- Endgame: centered on the Atlas system, which contains a large number of Atlas nodes.
A batch of endgame changes from Dawn of the Hunt is already live and treated here as confirmed content: Cleanse maps, Rogue Exiles (enemies that use player skills and gear), unique strongboxes, 8 new unique map biomes, the Expedition-related recombinator crafting mechanic, unique tablets, and an expanded Atlas tree.
What the Full Release Changes#
| Change | Detail |
|---|---|
| Early access ends | The global version enters full release on 2026-12-11 |
| Goes free-to-play | No supporter pack purchase needed for access |
| Story completed | Remaining story chapters arrive with the full release |
| New class | The Duelist joins — pure sword, sword-and-shield and dual-wield |
Official marketing says the full release will include more than 100 maps — note that this is a marketing claim, and the actual composition is whatever ships at launch.
Chinese Version vs Global Version#
The Chinese version Path of Exile: Descend and the global version are two separately operated builds, running on separate servers with separate economies. Think it through before you choose:
| Item | Global | China |
|---|---|---|
| Operator | Grinding Gear Games | Tencent |
| Platforms | Standalone client, Steam, Epic | WeGame only |
| How to enter | Buy a supporter pack during early access | Pre-register on WeGame before launch |
| Inheritance | — | Stash tabs and cosmetics from the previous game carry over |
| Economy | Independent global economy | Independent Chinese economy, not shared with global |
Related Games#
- Last Epoch — a dark action RPG built on the same season model and passive skill tree
- Diablo IV — a flagship of the loot-driven action RPG genre
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — a story-driven open-world action RPG
- Fallout 4 — a wasteland open-world RPG
- Horizon Forbidden West — a sci-fi open-world action RPG sequel
Related Rankings#
Best RPGs · Most Anticipated Games of 2026 · Best Soulslike Games
Full Guides#
In-depth sub-guides — ascendancy classes, the Atlas, beginner basics, boss strategies, builds, class overviews, controls and settings, crafting, currency and trading, endgame, FAQ, farming routes, skill gems, items, the market, quests, secrets, and advanced tips — are available in Chinese on NTGame’s Path of Exile 2 section.