Path of Exile 2 1.0 Launches December 11 and Goes Free to Play

Path of Exile 2 will officially leave Early Access on December 11, 2026 PST, when Grinding Gear Games releases version 1.0 and opens the action RPG as a free-to-play title. The full release will also bring the Duelist to the playable roster, introducing sword combat alongside the new class. Players can find the current Early Access information on the official Path of Exile 2 website.

The date is important because it replaces the broader release window that surrounded Path of Exile 2 during much of its development. It also marks the end of the game's paid Early Access period and establishes a firm point when players waiting for the free version can enter Wraeclast.

One date should not be confused with the new launch announcement. December 6 was the Early Access release date in 2024. The version 1.0 release is December 11, 2026 PST. Grinding Gear Games confirmed the original December 6, 2024 Early Access launch through its official launch information, while the current Steam listing now identifies December 11 as the date the game leaves Early Access.

Path of Exile 2 leaves Early Access on December 11

The current Path of Exile 2 Steam page states that the game will leave Early Access on December 11, 2026 PST. Grinding Gear Games also says the game will become free-to-play once the Early Access period ends.

That changes the entry point for players who have held off during development. Path of Exile 2 is currently sold through Early Access supporter packs, but version 1.0 removes the requirement to purchase access to begin playing.

The game originally entered Early Access on December 6, 2024, meaning the full launch arrives roughly two years after players first gained access to the sequel. During that period, Grinding Gear Games has continued expanding the campaign, classes, progression systems, and endgame while adjusting the game through player feedback.

PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and Series S are the currently confirmed platforms associated with Path of Exile 2. GosuGamers also lists those platforms for the December version 1.0 release.

The Duelist brings swords to version 1.0

One of the most significant confirmed gameplay additions for the full release is the Duelist.

Grinding Gear Games confirmed through the official Path of Exile channel that the Duelist will arrive with the version 1.0 release on December 11. The class is also tied to the arrival of a new sword weapon type, giving players another melee focused approach to character building.

The Duelist was shown publicly as part of the version 1.0 reveal around Gamescom 2026. The class is designed around sword combat and can combine a sword with a shield, adding a different option to the melee archetypes already playable during Early Access.

Grinding Gear Games has since released a dedicated Duelist presentation, providing a closer look at the class before its December debut. The presentation identifies both the Duelist and its associated weapon type as additions planned for the full release.

For players already planning new characters for version 1.0, the addition is particularly relevant because Path of Exile builds are closely connected to weapon choices, skills, passive progression, and equipment. A new weapon category therefore has implications beyond simply adding another selectable class.

Grinding Gear Games plans more campaign content for the full version

Version 1.0 is also intended to expand Path of Exile 2 beyond its current Early Access structure.

Grinding Gear Games states in its Early Access information that the planned full version will add two more Acts, additional classes and corresponding Ascendancy classes, more skill gems and items, and further endgame content, areas, bosses, and monsters.

The current game information also describes the complete campaign as having six Acts.

Those additions matter for players who deliberately avoided Early Access because they wanted to experience a more complete campaign rather than follow the game while major systems and content were still evolving.

The exact scope of every version 1.0 change has not yet been fully detailed in the sources reviewed for this article. Grinding Gear Games has confirmed the release date, free access model, the Duelist, swords, and its broader plans for the completed version, but further launch details can still be announced before December.

What players should know before the full release

For players deciding whether to enter during Early Access or wait, December 11 is now the key date.

Path of Exile 2 remains an Early Access game today. Once version 1.0 arrives, Grinding Gear Games says it will become free-to-play. The Duelist and sword weapon type are also confirmed for the launch.

The official sources reviewed for this article do not yet provide a precise version 1.0 launch hour beyond identifying December 11 PST. Regional availability could therefore fall on a different calendar date in some time zones once Grinding Gear Games publishes the exact launch schedule.

The reviewed announcement material also does not fully explain how existing Early Access characters, league progression, or other account progression will be handled at the transition to version 1.0. Those details should be treated as unconfirmed until Grinding Gear Games publishes dedicated launch information.

For now, the confirmed milestone is clear: Path of Exile 2 reaches version 1.0 on December 11, 2026 PST, becomes free-to-play, and introduces the Duelist and swords as it moves beyond Early Access.

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