News5 min read
Path of Exile 2 1.0 Release Date: Dec 11, Free-to-Play, Duelist
Path of Exile 2 leaves early access on December 11, 2026, going free-to-play with the Duelist and two new acts, ahead of a full 1.0 reveal at ExileCon on November 6.
Contents
- Path of Exile 2 1.0 Release Date and Platforms
- ExileCon 2026: Full 1.0 Reveal on November 6
- Free-to-Play on Every Platform
- Path of Exile 2 Duelist: Sword and Shield Returns
- Acts 5 and 6 Complete the Campaign
- The Shadow: Teased, Not Yet Confirmed
- Current Early Access State and What Comes Next
- Frequently asked questions
- What is the Path of Exile 2 1.0 release date?
- Is Path of Exile 2 free to play at launch?
- Is the Path of Exile 2 Duelist confirmed for 1.0?
- Is the Shadow class confirmed for Path of Exile 2?
- When is ExileCon 2026 and what will it reveal?
- Sources
Grinding Gear Games has confirmed that Path of Exile 2 will leave early access with version 1.0 on December 11, 2026 (Pacific time) and go free-to-play on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Before that launch, the studio is holding a full 1.0 reveal at ExileCon 2026 on November 6, 2026, where it plans to detail the new Duelist class, the campaign's final two acts, and more. Here is everything confirmed about the Path of Exile 2 1.0 release date ahead of that show.
Path of Exile 2 1.0 Release Date and Platforms
Path of Exile 2 1.0 is set to arrive on Friday, December 11, 2026, Pacific time, closing out an early access period that began on December 6, 2024, according to a detailed roundup from WCCFTech. The 1.0 version launches simultaneously on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, the same platforms that already support the early access build. Grinding Gear Games has not announced an exact launch hour for December 11 beyond confirming the date in Pacific time.
ExileCon 2026: Full 1.0 Reveal on November 6
Grinding Gear Games is holding a dedicated ExileCon 2026 broadcast to go in-depth on the full release. Per the official Path of Exile forum announcement, the pre-show starts at 12:30 PM PST on November 6, 2026, with the main keynote at 1:00 PM PST (4:00 PM ET, 9:00 PM GMT), streamed on Twitch at twitch.tv/pathofexile and on YouTube at youtube.com/@playpathofexile.
Free-to-Play on Every Platform
The biggest structural change at launch is pricing. Early access required a $30 Supporter Pack buy-in, but starting December 11, 2026, Path of Exile 2 is free to play on every supported platform, with no payment needed to access the full campaign and endgame, as outlined in WCCFTech's rundown of the 1.0 launch.
- Microtransactions and purchases are shared account-wide between Path of Exile 1 and Path of Exile 2, so cosmetics bought for either game carry over.
- Players who already bought in during early access keep their account-bound purchases, such as stash tabs and cosmetics, on their 1.0 characters.
- Everyone who registered early at pathofexile2.com/register will receive microtransaction codes by email after launch, redeemable on the official website.
Path of Exile 2 Duelist: Sword and Shield Returns
Grinding Gear Games has confirmed the Path of Exile 2 Duelist for 1.0, a sword-and-shield fighter that introduces the new Sword weapon type to the sequel, per WCCFTech's coverage of the announcement. The Duelist adds another melee option to the existing roster of classes already available in early access.
Acts 5 and 6 Complete the Campaign
Alongside the Duelist, Grinding Gear Games has confirmed that Acts 5 and 6 are launching with 1.0, completing the Path of Exile 2 campaign. These final two acts close out the story that began with the early access release in December 2024, giving players a full campaign for the first time once 1.0 arrives on December 11, 2026.
The Shadow: Teased, Not Yet Confirmed
A dagger-wielding Shadow has only been teased, not confirmed, through GGG's "Become the Darkness" teaser material. Maxroll's coverage of the teaser notes that Shadow is a returning class from the original Path of Exile, a fast-paced mage-assassin hybrid built around daggers, who in Path of Exile 1 relied on traps, mines and poisons. As an intelligence/dexterity class, Shadow would share a passive skill tree starting location with the Monk, giving the two similar damage and defense scaling options.
Nothing about the Shadow's actual toolkit in Path of Exile 2 has been confirmed by Grinding Gear Games; the class remains speculative pending the November 6, 2026 ExileCon reveal.
Current Early Access State and What Comes Next
As of this writing, Path of Exile 2 is on the 0.5.x patch line, with two leagues running in parallel: the Forbidden Rites event league, which introduced a fresh economy when it launched on September 4, 2026, and the ongoing Runes of Aldur league, according to WCCFTech's roundup. Both leagues are set to end when 1.0 arrives in December 2026.
This article will be refreshed after the ExileCon 2026 broadcast on November 6, 2026, once Grinding Gear Games shares further details on the Duelist, the Shadow, Acts 5 and 6, and any other 1.0 content revealed during the keynote. Key dates are also tracked on our Path of Exile 2 1.0 launch page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Path of Exile 2 1.0 release date?
Path of Exile 2 1.0 is set to launch on December 11, 2026, Pacific time, on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Grinding Gear Games has not announced an exact launch hour.
Is Path of Exile 2 free to play at launch?
Yes. Starting December 11, 2026, Path of Exile 2 becomes free-to-play on every supported platform, replacing the $30 Supporter Pack buy-in required during early access.
Is the Path of Exile 2 Duelist confirmed for 1.0?
Yes. Grinding Gear Games has confirmed a sword-and-shield Duelist class for 1.0, introducing a new Sword weapon type to the game.
Is the Shadow class confirmed for Path of Exile 2?
No, not yet. The dagger-wielding Shadow has only been teased through GGG's "Become the Darkness" teaser material and is not an officially confirmed 1.0 class.
When is ExileCon 2026 and what will it reveal?
ExileCon 2026 takes place on November 6, 2026, with a pre-show at 12:30 PM PST and a keynote at 1:00 PM PST (4:00 PM ET, 9:00 PM GMT), where Grinding Gear Games plans to give a full reveal of Path of Exile 2 1.0 content.
